Goryachkina Out, Kosteniuk Survives @ Women’s World Cup Chess
Tiebreaks have concluded for round two of the 2025 Women’s Chess World Cup, and 6th-seed Aleksandra Goryachkina has been eliminated by IM Meruert Kamalidenova. Goryachkina recovered with a win in game two after losing game one of the match, but she lost the first game in tiebreaks as well and could not make up the ground a second time.
Alexandra Kosteniuk played one of the two longest tiebreaks of round two, outlasting IM Padmini Rout to win 4.5-3.5. They started with two classical draws, and then two 15-minute draws. Padmini won the first 10-minute game to put the pressure on, but Kosteniuk pulled through to equalize the match in dramatic fashion. Padmini had the first big advantage, which quickly faded, then Kosteniuk let multiple big advantages slip, leading to the following rook endgame.
It’s equal, if Black (Padmini) pushes the f-pawn, 44. …f6!. White’s pawns are stuck (if a7, then …Ra2), Black will follow …g5 to secure the kingside, and it’s hard to see any chances for White. Instead she played 44. …Kf8??, instinctively bringing the king closer, but now 45. Rxc6 is winning. The b4-pawn can’t be taken because of the standard maneuver 45. …Rxb4 46. a7 Ra4 47. Rc8+ and promotes, which meant the connected passed pawns won within a few moves. Kosteniuk won the match with a win and a draw in 5-minute games.
Elsewhere, Kateryna Lagno and Mariya Muzychuk faced tough challenges from their lower-rated opponents, both winning by 4-2 scores. Joining Goryachkina as the first eliminated GMs are Nino Batsiashvili (upset 1.5-0.5 by WFM Elnaz Kaliakhmet), Irina Krush (2-0 to IM Carissa Yip), Anna Ushenina (4.5-3.5 to IM Vantika Agrawal, in the other tiebreak marathon), and Elina Danielian (3.5-2.5 to fellow GM Antoaneta Stefanova).
The tournament continues straight to round three on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. UTC, and includes several GM vs. GM matches. Follow along on Lichess.
Photo by Anna Shtourman / FIDE
