After four played rounds in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024, GM Tan Zhongyi remained in the sole lead of the event with the score of 3/4 points.
Tan Zhongyi saved a lost position in the fourth round and took half a point from the game to head into the first free day as the sole leader of the event. Playing black against GM Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi opted for very aggressive Najdorf. It seemed that Lagno wanted to keep things calm and chose a positional 6.Be2 against it, and indeed, the game took a calm course.
The Chinese grandmaster sacrificed a pawn with a typical Najdorf …d5 center-break, but later misplaced the Queen and faced a troublesome position. Lagno was gradually improving the advantage but made a crucial mistake with 52.Be5?? and let her opponent to escape.
Kateryna Lagno vs Tan Zhongyi 1/2-1/2
The only game to finish with a decisive result in the fourth round was played between IM Nurgyul Salimova and GM Humpy Koneru. Salimova scored her first victory in the Candidates after neutralizing Humpy’s mating attack.
Humpy chose Dutch defense with an early h5-h4 maneuver showing that she is ready for a tremendous fight. However, Salimova defended well and gained a winning position by trading Queens. Koneru couldn’t do anything with Nurgyul’s precise technique, and eventually resigned.
Nurgyul Salimova vs Humpy Koneru 1-0
Standings after four played rounds:
| Rk. | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | |
| 1 | GM | Tan, Zhongyi | CHN | 2521 | 3 |
| 2 | GM | Goryachkina, Aleksandra | FID | 2553 | 2.5 |
| 3 | GM | Lagno, Kateryna | FID | 2542 | 2 |
| IM | Vaishali, Rameshbabu | IND | 2475 | 2 | |
| IM | Salimova, Nurgyul | BUL | 2432 | 2 | |
| 6 | GM | Koneru, Humpy | IND | 2546 | 1.5 |
| GM | Lei, Tingjie | CHN | 2550 | 1.5 | |
| GM | Muzychuk, Anna | UKR | 2520 | 1.5 |
