Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali stayed in contention for the top prize by drawing with China's Zhongyi Tan in the penultimate round of women's Candidates Chess.
Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov won the open section with a round to spare, earning the right to challenge India's D Gukesh for the World Chess Championship title later this year.
On a day that featured four draws, R Praggnandhaa also made a truce with Fabiano Caruana of the United States, and the Indian remained on the seventh spot in the eight-player tournament.
The women's section is hugely crowded at the top with Vaishali leading on 7.5 points with Assaubayeva.
Vaishali will take on Kateryna Lagno in her 14th and final round game on Wednesday.
