All posts tagged: Goryachkina

FIDE Candidates: Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina poses the biggest challenge to India’s Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali | Chess News

FIDE Candidates: Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina poses the biggest challenge to India’s Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali | Chess News

Published by Webster

4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Mar 28, 2026 08:43 PM IST The flight from India to Cyprus was meant to carry three. Instead, it carried two. When Koneru Humpy made the difficult choice to withdraw from the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, prioritising safety, the equation suddenly changed for Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali, who boarded the flight to Cyprus regardless. With a war raging in the Middle East, not too far from the Mediterranean Island, Humpy faced a choice that no athlete should have to make. For Humpy, who had found a second wind in her career and was pushing for the ultimate glory through another appearance in the Candidates, the decision came at a significant price. She has been replaced by Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk as FIDE is determined to continue with the tournament at the same venue in the same country. While the Cyprus Chess Federation has defended the security of the country, pointing to its stability even amid regional tensions but the new reality is that Humpy’s absence shifts the weight of Indian hopes …

Why Aleksandra Goryachkina, who prioritized humanities over Maths, is Russia’s big hope to reclaim world title | Chess News

Why Aleksandra Goryachkina, who prioritized humanities over Maths, is Russia’s big hope to reclaim world title | Chess News

Published by Webster

As Kateryna Lagno and Aleksandra Goryachkina line up for the Candidates 2026 in the women’s section, they will attempt to reclaim the crown a Russian last win in 2008-10 through Alexandra Kosteniuk. Two Ukrainians and three Chinese have taken the world title cycles since then, including Hou Yifan thrice. Vladimir Kramnik was the last Russian in open events to win twenty years ago in 2006-7. Aleksandra Goryachkina however is the world Rapid champion from 2025. Goryachkina had just about started liking chess at that point, but the 2019 Candidates winner has not managed to get the breakthrough that the old powerhouse restlessly desires, going down to Ju Wenjun. Sasha’s mother Larisa Matvienko had told Krasny Sever back then that the family’s move to Karpov’s Polar Chess academy had been strongly driven by the country’s keen to turn one of its prodigies into a world beater. Goryachkina was born into a chess family – her mother, a candidate master of sports, her father a FIDE master who coached at chess school. “Sasha enjoyed dancing at the …

Zhu Jiner, Goryachkina finish top two, qualify for Women’s Candidates 2026

Zhu Jiner, Goryachkina finish top two, qualify for Women’s Candidates 2026

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FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 Final Leaderboard: China’s Zhu Jiner finished joint top before Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk was declared the winner of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Austria leg due to better tiebreaks on Thursday. However, that didn’t stop the Chinese from topping the leaderboard after all six legs and qualifying for the Women’s Candidates 2026. Zhu has had identical finishes in all three events at Nicosia (Cyprus), Pune (India) and Grosslobming (Austria), where she failed to win the event after finishing on joint top. In Nicosia and Austria, it was the Ukrainian Muzychuk who ended up winning the event and in Pune, it was local challenger Koneru Humpy who denied Zhu from winning the India leg. But with a total of 352.5 points via three joint top finishes, which fetched her 117.5 per event, she became the first player to qualify for Candidates. Joining her is Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina, who won the Shymkent (Kazakhstan) leg and collected a total of 308.34 points to finish second. Story continues below this ad Muzychuk was the unluckiest …

Humpy jumps to second after winning Pune leg; Goryachkina on top; Zhu Jiner third

Humpy jumps to second after winning Pune leg; Goryachkina on top; Zhu Jiner third

Published by Webster

India finest women’s chess player, Koneru Humpy edged out China’s Zhu Jiner to win the Pune leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix on Wednesday. After beating Nurgyul Salimova in the ninth (and final) round, Humpy finished on equal points — 7.0/11 — with Zhu but the Indian had the better tiebreaks between the two to clinch the trophy. She also racked up 117.5 crucial Grand Prix points, rising to the second spot behind Aleksandra Goryachkina with a total of 279.17 points after her three events. All players can play up to a maximum of three tournaments in this Women’s Grand Prix cycle. In the Shymkent (Kazakhstan) leg, Humpy was tied for the fifth-sixth position and gained 55 GP rating points. In Monaco, she was in joint lead with Grand Prix leader Russia Aleksandra Goryachkina and Mongolia’s Batkhuyag Munguntuul to earn 106.67 points. Goryachkina also completed her three rounds and sits comfortably with 308.34 points. Story continues below this ad After the 2025 Women’s World Cup, the Grand Prix series is the most high-profile tournament …

Humpy finishes 2nd behind Goryachkina

Humpy finishes 2nd behind Goryachkina

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India’s Koneru Humpy made a second-place finish at the Monaco Women’s Grand Prix on Thursday. Aleksandra Goryachkina clinched the title ahead of Humpy and Batkhuyag Munguntuul, thanks to the superior Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak. After nine gruelling rounds Goryachkina, Humpy and Batkhuyag were tied at the top place with 5.5 points each. In the tie-breaker, the Russian grandmaster drew against Batkhuyag to emerge triumphant. This was her second Grand Prix leg victory. The ninth and final round delivered high-stakes drama, with Munguntuul and Goryachkina drawing their encounter, allowing Humpy to join them at the top after defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva. Meanwhile, Alexandra Kosteniuk bounced back with a victory over Elisabeth Paehtz, Tan Zhongyi and Harika Dronavalli drew. In a shocking twist, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh defeated Kateryna Lagno, who had led the tournament all through but fell at the final hurdle, dashing her hopes for the title. Earlier in the eighth round, Harika, who struggled throughout the competition, had an outstanding game against Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland as she notched up her first win of the tournament. In the ninth …

Carlsen and Goryachkina claim the Rapid’s titles

Carlsen and Goryachkina claim the Rapid’s titles

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Magnus Carlsen and Aleksandra Goryachkina showcased their dominance as they claimed the championship titles in the Open and Women’s sections of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz Tournament, held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. In the Open Section, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen delivered a flawless performance on the final day to secure the title. The overnight leader defeated Vincent Keymer, who celebrated his birthday during the tournament, in the seventh round. Carlsen followed it up with a victory against Daniil Dubov in the eighth round before concluding with a draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the ninth round. With an impressive total of 7.5 points out of 9, Carlsen clinched the title, finishing two points ahead of his nearest competitors. India’s R. Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So finished tied on 5.5 points, but Praggnanandhaa’s superior tie-break score earned him the first runner-up position, while So took the third spot. In the Women’s Section, Aleksandra Goryachkina maintained her consistent form to emerge victorious with 7.5 points. A draw against India’s Koneru Humpy in …

Carlsen and Goryachkina lead the pack

Carlsen and Goryachkina lead the pack

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Kolkata – Magnus Carlsen and Aleksandra Goryachkina displayed sheer dominance at the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid Tournament, each taking the sole lead in their respective sections on Day 2 at the iconic Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. In the Open section, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen registered a flawless performance, securing three consecutive victories against S L Narayanan, Wesley So, and Arjun Erigaisi. Starting the day just half a point behind overnight leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Carlsen’s masterful play elevated him to the top of the leaderboard with a commanding 5 points out of a possible 6. Close on Carlsen’s heels is former World Rapid Champion Abdusattorov with 4.5 points. The Uzbek prodigy held his own with draws against Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi in rounds 4 and 5, and ended the day with a win over S L Narayanan, positioning himself as Carlsen’s primary challenger heading into the final day. In the Women’s section, Aleksandra Goryachkina mirrored Carlsen’s success with an equally impressive performance, securing three victories on Day 2. Her back-to-back wins against …