In the Chair

叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina

4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship; Mr Birdie and Friends – WR Chess; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 香港 (Hong Kong), June 18, 2026

3rr2k/1ppb2p1/1nB2q1p/p7/P3p3/2P2NPP/1P1B2P1/1R1QR1K1 b - - 0 21

Position after 21. Bb5xc6

White’s last move is a mistake which allows Black to unleash the beast within.
21. ... bxc6 22. Nd4. 22. Nh4 Bxh3! (23. gxh3 Nc4) is no better.
22. ... c5 23. Nc2 Bxa4 (23. ... Bxh3!?)
24. Qc1 Nc4 25. Bf4 Bxc2 26. Qxc2 e3 27. Rbd1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1? 28. Qxd1 Qe6 is anything but satisfying but perhaps the lesser of two evils.
28. ... g5 29. Qe2. Not 29. Bxc7 on account of 29. ... e2 30. Re1 Qf1+! 31. Rxf1 exf1=Q+ 32. Kxf1 Ne3+ winning a clear Rook. If, instead, 29. Rd7 then 29. ... Re7 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. Qe2 Qf7 winning a piece.
29. ... gxf4 30. Rf1. Desperation — but 30. Qxc4 f3! also loses.
30. ... Nd6 31. Rxf4 Qe5 32. Rh4 Nf5 33. Rg4 Nxg3 34. Qe1

34. ... e2! 0–0. For after 35. Rxg3 Qxg3! Black would be left with a Rook to the good.

Post equitem sedet atra cura. Photo: FIDE.

In the Hot Seat

鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina

4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship; Chessnut Nova – WR Chess; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 香港 (Hong Kong), June 17, 2026

rr5k/p1p1Npp1/4b2p/b1p1P3/3pRP1B/8/PPP3PP/1K1R4 b - - 3 25

Position after 25. Re1-e4

The sudden inability of four-time Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) to join the WR Chess Team gave Goryachkina the opportunity to sit just where she wouldn’t dare to venture without a clear invitation from the boss of WR Group, Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein. But the queen’s chair was too hot today, and the rising star of Chinese (women’s) chess, 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí), gave Goryachkina a hard time.
25. ... Rxb2+! 26. Kxb2 Rb8+ 27. Kc1 Bxa2 28. c4

28. ... Bb4? Goryachkina played very well so far, but here she misses the best way to make sense of her initiative: 28. ... Bc3! (Δ 29. ... Rb1+ 30. Kc2 Rb2+ 31. Kc1 Bb3−+) 29. Be1 Rb1 30. Kc2 Rb2+ 31. Kd3 Rb1 with a likely draw.
29. Nc6 Ba3+ 30. Kd2 Rb2+ 31. Ke1 Bxc4 32. Ra1 Bd3? 32. ... Rb3! 33. Ne7 Kh7! 34. f5 Bb2 35. Rxa7 Bc3+ 36. Kf2 Rb2+ 37. Kg3 Rb3∞ was Black’s last chance to hang on to a possible draw.
33. Rxd4 cxd4 34. Rxa3 Be4 35. Nxd4 Rxg2 36. Bg3 Rb2 37. Rxa7. Black has not enough for the piece. The rest is a matter of technique for 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí).
37. ... c5 38. Ne2 Bf3 39. Nc3 Kg8 40. Rc7 h5 41. Rxc5 h4 42. Bxh4 Rxh2 43. Bg5 Bg4 44. Nd5 Kh7 45. Ne7 Bd7 46. Rd5 Bg4 47. Rd2 Rh1+ 48. Kf2 Rh2+ 49. Ke3 Rh3+ 50. Kd4 Bd7 51. Ke4 Bg4 52. f5 Rh5 53. Kf4 Bh3 54. Rh2 g6 55. fxg6+ fxg6 56. Nd5 Kg7 57. Nf6 Rh8 58. Kg3 Be6 59. Rxh8 Kxh8 60. Bh6 g5 61. Bxg5 Kg7 62. Kf4 Kf7 63. Ne4 Ba2 64. Nc5 Ke8 65. Ke4 Kf7 66. Bf6 Kg6 67. Nd3 Kf7 68. Nf4 Bb3 69. Kd4 Ba2 70. Kc5 Bb3 71. Kd6 Ba2 72. Nd5 Bb3 73. e6+ Kg6 74. Bc3 Ba4 75. Nb6 Bb3 76. e7 Bf7 77. Kd7 Kf5 78. Nc8 Bh5 79. Nd6+ Kf4 80. Bb2 Bg4+ 81. Kc6 Bh5 82. Bf6 Bf3+ 83. Kd7 Bg4+ 84. Ke8 Be6 85. Kd8 1–0.

Si duo faciunt idem, non est idem. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

Thinky Thoughts

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 14, 2026
5rk1/2p3p1/2Nqb1Pp/1P2R3/2PP4/p4P2/Q4K2/8 b - - 7 51

Position after 51. Re4-e5

With her last move, 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr), who wanted to win at all costs, went seriously overboard, and Goryachkina didn’t let the opportunity slip away.
51. ... Kh8! A brilliant example of attacking prophylaxis, in the best style of Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov. Now Black actually threatens ... Be6-g4, with no longer fear of a check after c4-c5.
52. Ke3. Suddenly the White King finds itself in a sea of trouble. Needless to say, the text is not a good one, but 52. Kg2 Rf6! is not cheerful either.
52. ... Bd7! 53. Re4 Bxc6 54. bxc6 Qg3 55. Qf2 Qxg6 56. d5 Qf6 57. Qe2

57. ... a2! 0–1. For if 58. Qxa2 then 58. ... Qc3+! 59. Ke2 Qxf3+ winning the Rook.

It is always too late — when one understands that half a point is better than none. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

A Void

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Rameshbabu Vaishali
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 11, 2026
Queen’s Pawn Opening D02

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c3 e6 4. Bf4 c5 5. e3 Qb6 6. Qb3 Bd7 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. Be2 0-0 9. 0-0 Rc8 10. Ne5 Be8 11. Bg5 Nc6 12. f4 Na5 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. f5 h6 15. Bh4 exf5 16. Rxf5 Nc6 17. a3 Bd8 18. Raf1 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Bc6 20. Ref5 Rc7 21. h3 Rd7 22. Bg3 Bc7 23. Bxc7 Rxc7 24. Re5 Re8

25. Rff5?! A bit too artificial. White could simply exchange Rooks on e8.
25. ... Rxe5 26. Rxe5 g6! Suddenly Black threatens ... Kg8-f8 followed by ... Nf6-d7 trapping the Rook in the middle of the board.
27. dxc5 bxc5 28. c4 Kf8 29. cxd5 Bxd5 30. Bc4?? Oblivious to the net closing around her, Goryachkina falls straight into Vaishali’s trap. 30. Bf3? Be6! also gives White a hard time, but 30. a4! Be6 31. Bc4 Nd7 32. Re4 Bf5 33. Rf4 Ne5 should still be tenable.
30. ... Bc6!

The Rook is in the sac.
31. Rxc5 b6 32. Rxc6 (32. Re5 Nd7−+)
32. ... Rxc6 33. Bb5 Rc2 34. Nc4 Nd5 35. b3 Rc3 36. Ba4 Nxe3 37. Nxb6 Rc2 38. Bb5 Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Rb2 40. Nd7+ Ke7 41. Nc5 Kd6 42. Nb7+ Kd5 43. b4 Ke4 44. Nc5+ Kf3 45. Bd3 f5 0–1.

As they say, “Never look back. It distracts from the now!”. Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE.

Late But Not Last

Divya Deshmukh – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 9, 2026
8/8/1Pk4p/6p1/p1N2p2/P6P/2b2KP1/8 w - - 0 56

Position after 55. ... f5-f4

From an absolute point of view, in the situation of the diagram, the Bishop is stronger than the Knight, but material is too reduced to allow Black any hope of a win.
56. g3? A first faux pas. Right was 56. h4!, in order to liquidate Black’s Kingside Pawns and then eventually sacrifice the Knight at a4.
56. ... fxg3+ 57. Kxg3 Bb3? Goryachkina too hesitates. She ought to have played 57. ... h5! at once, winning as in the game.
58. Nb2? Deshmukh misses her chance of salvation. 58. Ne5+! Kxb6 59. h4! would have ensured a draw.
58. ... h5! White is not given a second chance.
59. Kf3 (59. h4 g4−+)
59. ... Kxb6 60. Ke4 Bc2+ 61. Kd4 Kc7 62. Kd5 g4! 0–1. For after 63. hxg4 h4−+ the Pawn queens.
0–1.

Finally, Goryachkina also tasted the thrill of victory. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

Forma mentis

“The one disadvantage of the catenaccio is that with its ultradefensive mentality, the game can degenerate into an incredibly boring game, particularly if both teams employ the same system”. Jaime Orejan, Football/Soccer. History and Tactics, McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina, United States, 2011, p. 106.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 5, 2026
Spanish Game C80

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Rxe4 d5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Rxe5 bxa4 11. b3 0-0 12. Ba3 Bxa3 13. Nxa3 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Nb1 Qc6 16. Qd2 axb3 17. cxb3 Bd7 18. Nc3 Re8 19. h3 h6 20. Re1 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Qd6 22. Qe3 (22. Qd2 a5 23. Ne2 Qa3 24. Nf4 c6 25. Nd3 Bf5 26. Ne5 c5 27. dxc5 Qxc5 28. Nf3 Be4 29. Nd4 Bb1 30. Qb2 Qb4 31. Nf3 Be4 32. a3 Qe7 33. Nd4 Qg5 34. f3 Qe3+ 35. Kh2 Bg6 36. b4 Qe5+ 37. g3 axb4 38. axb4 Bd3 39. Qf2 Qe8 40. Qd2 Bc4 41. Kg2 h5 42. h4 Qb8 43. Kf2 Qb6 44. Kg2 Qb8 45. Kf2 Qb6 46. Kg2 ½–½ McShane – L. Costa, 51st Schachbundesliga, Deizisau 2025)
22. ... a5 23. h4 Kh8 24. Ne2 Qa3 25. Qd2 c5 26. dxc5 Qxc5 27. Nd4 Kg8 28. Kh2 Qd6+ 29. g3 Qc5 30. Kg2 Kh8 31. f3 Kg8 32. g4 Qc7 33. Qe3 Qd6 34. g5 hxg5 35. hxg5 g6 36. Ne2 Bb5 37. Nc3 Bc6 38. Qb6 Qd7 39. Ne2 Qe7 40. Kf2 Be8

41. Qe3 Kf8 42. Nf4 Bc6 43. Nd3 d4 44. Qf4 Bb5 45. Ne5 Kg8 46. Qf6 Qc7 47. Ng4 d3 48. Qd4 Kf8 49. a4 Bd7 50. Qh8+ Ke7 51. Qf6+ Kf8 52. Qh8+ Ke7 53. Qe5+ Kd8 54. Qxc7+ Kxc7 55. Ne5 Be6 56. Nc4 Kc6 57. Nxa5+ Kc5 58. Nc4 Kb4 59. Nd2 Bxb3 60. a5 Bd5 61. a6 Kc3 62. Ke3 Ba8 63. a7 Kc2 64. Ne4 Bc6 65. f4 Ba8 66. Nd2 Bc6 67. Nc4 Ba8 68. Nd2 Bc6 69. Nf1 Ba8 70. Nd2 ½–½.

So far, Goryachkina drew seven games out of seven — something for her (and her mentors) to think about. Photo: Yoav Nis (Eugene Nisenbaum)/FIDE.

Books She Hasn’t Read Yet

• Express News Service, “Why Aleksandra Goryachkina, who prioritized humanities over Maths, is Russia’s big hope to reclaim world title”, The Indian Express, March 26, 2026

In academics, too, the chess pro known for her Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) opening with Black, chose unconventionally. She would pass her state final exams prioritizing humanities over mathematics, which was unusual for chess players. [Read more].

Once again, Goryachkina is called to serve the empire. Photo: Chess Federation of Russia.

15 minutes of fame

A Matter of Time

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Bat-Erdene Mungunzul

13th Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Doha, December 28, 2025

Pirc Defence B07

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. Nf3 b5? Sounder is 5. ... Bg7 6. Qd2 0-0 7. Bh6 b5 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 as after 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. 0-0-0 b4 13. Rhe1 Rb8 14. Na4 Qd5 15. b3 Ncxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bf1 Qxd2+ 18. Rxd2 Nc6 19. Rd5 White should regain the Pawn with a minimal advantage, Goryachkina – E. Pähtz, FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–21, 2nd stage, Monte Carlo 2019.
6. e5 Ng4 7. Ng5 f6. No better is 7. ... Nxe3 8. fxe3 Bb7 9. e6 fxe6 10. Nxe6 Qc8 11. d5 c6 12. e4 Nd7 13. Be2 Ne5 14. 0-0 Qb8 15. dxc6 Bxc6 16. Nd5 Qa7+ 17. Kh1 Rc8 18. Qd2 h5 19. a4 Bh6 20. Qa5 bxa4 21. Bxa6 Nc4 22. Qc3 Qxa6 23. Nec7+ 1–0 Goryachkina – Lanchava, 43rd Women’s Chess Olympiad, Batumi 2028.
8. Qf3 c6 9. e6 Nh6 10. h4! Bg7. If 10. ... fxg5 then 11. hxg5 Nf5 12. d5! with crushing attack.

11. Bd3! fxg5 12. hxg5 Bxe6 13. gxh6 Bf6 14. Ne4 Bd5? 14. ... 0-0 15. Nxf6+ Rxf6 16. Qg3 Nd7 17. 0-0 leaves White with a great advantage, but was the lesser evil.
15. Nxf6+ exf6 16. Qg3 Kd7? The decision to castle “at hand” on the Queenside will prove to be literally disastrous. What follows is a massacre:
17. 0-0 Kc7 18. b3 Bf7 19. c4 Kb7 20. d5 c5 21. cxb5 Qb6 22. a4 Bxd5 23. Rfd1 Rd8 24. a5 Qc7 25. bxa6+ Ka7 26. b4 Nd7 27. b5 Bb3 28. Rdb1 1–0.

Goryachkina inscribed for the first time her name in the roll of honour of the Women’s World Rapid Championship. Photo: Lennart Ootes/FIDE.

≒

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina and Divya Deshmukh, the only two women participating in the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, both finished with 5/11 placing 77th and 79th, respectively, ahead of many higher rated participants.

A Way with a Will

Boris Abramovich Gelfand – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 13, 2025
Queen’s Gambit Declined D53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Qb3 c6 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. Bd3 0-0 11. 0-0 Re8 12. Rad1. The strategic alternative is 12. h3 Nf8 13. Qc2 Be7 14. Rab1 Bd6 15. Rfe1 Be6 16. b4 Rc8 17. Qa4 Qd7 18. Qd1 Bb8 19. Nd2 Re7 20. Nf1 Bf5 21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Qg4 Qxg4 23. hxg4 Nd7 24. f3 Nb6 25. Kf2 Nc4 26. a4 a5 27. bxa5 Bc7 28. a6 bxa6 29. Rb3 Ba5 30. Reb1 Kh7 31. Ne2 Rce8 32.Rb7 Bc7 33. R7b3 Bd6 34. Nc1 a5 35. Rb7 c5 36. Rxe7 Rxe7 37. Rb5 cxd4 38. exd4 Bb4 39. Nb3 Be1+ 40. Kg1 Ne3 41. g3 Nd1 42. Nxa5 Bf2+ 43. Kh1 Re1 44. Kg2 Re2 45. Kh1 Be1 46. Nc6 Nf2+ 47. Kg1 Nh3+ 48. Kh1 Nf2+ 49. Kg1 Nh3+ 50. Kh1 Nf2+ 51. Kg1 ½–½ Botvinnik – Levenfish, 3rd International Tournament, Moscow 1936.
12. ... Nf8 13. h3 Ne6 14. Bb1 Nc7 15. Rfe1 Rb8 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Bf5 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Rxe8+ Nxe8 20. Ne5 Be6 21. Qd3 Rd8 22. Re1 Qf4 23. Qh7+ Kf8

24. Bg6 Qd2 25. Nf3 Qf4 26. Ne5 Qd2 27. Nf3 Qf4 28. Re3. In hindsight, it would have been wise to take a draw by repetition (28. Ne5).
28. ... Qf6 29. Bc2 g5 30. Qd3 Nd6

31. Ne5? Gelfand still seeks a combinative-tactical solution, but his calculations will prove erroneous. Instead, he ought to play 31. Qa3! Kg7 32. Qxa7 Nb5 33. Qxb7 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Rxd4 35. Rf3 Qe5 36. Bb3 Rd7 37. Qxc6 Rc7 38. Re3 Bxb3 39. Rxe5 Rxc6 40. axb3 Rc1+ 41. Kh2 Rc2 with a draw coming soon.
31. ... Nb5! 32. Rf3 Qg7 33. Bb3 Nxd4 34. Bxe6 Qxe5 35. Re3 Qc5 36. Bd7 Rxd7 37. Qh7 Ne6! Sic et simpliciter. White could well resign here.
38. Rxe6 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 fxe6 40. Qxh6+ Ke7 41. Qg7+ Kd8 0–1.

Goryachkina scored her third win at the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament over Belarusian-Israeli Grandmaster and former World Championship challenger Gelfand. Photo: Vladimir Leonidovich Barsky.

Kino-Eye

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Daniil Aleksandrovich Yuffa
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 12, 2025
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 b6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. e3 Ne4 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. Be2 a4 11. Qc3 Qf6 12. 0-0 d6 13. Nd2 Bb7 14. Bd3 Nd7 15. Qc2 Ra5 16. Ne4 Qh6 17. f4 0-0 18. Nc3 Rh5 19. h3 f5 20. d5 Nc5 21. Be2 Rh4 22. Nxa4 Ne4 23. Nc3 exd5 24. cxd5 Nxc3 25. Qxc3 Bxd5 26. Bc4 Bxc4 27. Qxc4+ Rf7 28. a4 g5 29. a5 bxa5 30. Rxa5 Qf6 31. fxg5 Rxc4 32. gxf6 Rxf6 33. Raxf5 Rxf5 34. Rxf5 Rb4 35. Rf2 Rb3 36. Re2 Kf7 37. Kf2 Ke6 38. Rc2 c5 39. g4 Rb5 40. Kf3 Ke5 41. h4 Rb4 42. Rh2 Rb8 43. g5

White is up a Pawn, but the Rook endgame is very drawish.
43. ... Rf8+? 43. ... d5 would have saved time and perhaps further mistakes.
44. Kg4! Ke4 45. Kh5 Kxe3 46. Kh6 Rf7 47. h5 d5 48. g6 hxg6 49. hxg6 Rf8 50. g7 Rb8 51. Kh7 c4 52. Rh3+ Ke4 53. Rh4+? By this unhappy check, White dramatically throws away the win. 53. Kg6 would have left Black without resource.
53. .. Kd3 54. Rh3+ Kc2 55. Rh2+ Kb3? Goryachkina is lucky enough to be given a second chance. Black ought to play 55. ... Kc1 (or also 55. Kb1) 56. Kg6 Rg8 57. Kf7 Rxg7+ 58. Kxg7 d4 with a draw.
56. Rd2 Ka2 57. b4+ Kb3 58. b5 c3 59. Rxd5 Kb4 60. Rg5 c2 61. Rg1 Rb7 62. Kh8 1–0.

Goryachkina scored her second win at the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament over Russian-Spanish Grandmaster Yuffa. Photo: Vladimir Leonidovich Barsky.

From Stonehenge to Samarkand

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Dmitrij Kollars
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 7, 2025
Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Re1 Ng6 6. c3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bg5 0-0. The alternative vintage theory is 10. ... f6 11. Bh4 Nxh4 12. Nxh4 0-0 13. Nc3 g5 14. Nf3 g4 15. Nd2 Nxd4 16. Nxd5 Bd6 17. Bc4 Kh8 18. Nb3 Nc6 19. Nd4 (perhaps here White should seek for improvement) 19. ... Be5 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Nc3 Bf5 with comfortable equality, Pfleger – R. E. Byrne, 47th Hastings Christmas Chess Festival, Hastings 1971.
11. Bxe7 Ngxe7 12. h3 Be6 13. Nc3 Qd6 14. Qd2 Rac8 15. Bxc6 Nxc6 16. Ne5 a6 17. Re3 f6 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Rae1 Bf7 20. Re7 Rc7 21. Rxc7 Qxc7 22. Na4 Rc8 23. Qb4 Re8. Black simplifies the position by forcing the exchange of Rooks, apparently olivious to the strength and the potential of White’s battery of Queen and Knight. Much preferable is 23. ... b6! 24. Qxb6 Qxb6 25. Nxb6 Rc2 raising the chances for a draw.
24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Nc5 Bc6 26. Ne6 Qf7 27. Qd6 Qe8 28. f4 g6?! 28. ... Kf7! 29. f5 Bd7 30. Nf4 Qc8 31. Qxd5+ Ke7 is as much sharp as it is sound.
29. Kh2 h5? This leads to a deadly weakening of the Kingside Pawn formation. Black was still in time for 29. ... Kf7 30. f5! gxf5 31. Nf4⩲ — after the exchange of Queens White will regain her Pawn with the better Pawn structure, but a breakthrough is not imminent.

30. f5! gxf5. If 30. ... g5 then 31. h4! dismantling Black’s pseudo-blockade.
31. Qg3+ Kf7 32. Nf4 Qe4. The ending ensuing from 32. ... Qg8 33. Qxg8+ Kxg8 34. Nxh5 is also completely lost for Black.
33. Qg6+ Ke7 34. Qg7+ Kd6 35. Qxf6+ Kc7 36. Nxh5 Kb6 37. Ng3 Qe3 38. Qe5 Qxe5 39. dxe5 d4 40. Nxf5 Kc5 41. Kg3 Bd5 42. h4 Be6 43. Nd6 Bxa2 44. Kf4 Bd5 45. h5 1–0.

Goryachkina is one of only two women playing in the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, the other being Divya Deshmukh. They both won today’s game. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

A Breath Away

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Meruert Askarovna Kamalidenova
3rd Women’s Chess World Cup; Round 2; match game 2; Batumi, July 10, 2025
8/1p6/2k1p2R/4K3/5Pr1/8/1P6/8 b - - 0 52

Position after 52. Rh7xh6

Goryachkina, after losing her first game yesterday, had today to win at all costs, but she got nothing but a dead drawn Rook endgame after a loop of 52 moves forth and back from immobilism to immobility. However, luck was on her side as Kamalidenova broke under the burden of her emotions:
52. ... Kd7? As always, passivity does not pay. Black ought to play 52. ... Kc5! 53. Rxe6 b5 with a tablebase draw.
53. Rh7+! Obviously not 53. Rxe6? Rxf4! with a draw.
53. ... Kc6 54. Re7!

54. ... Rg2. If 54. ... b5 then 55. b4!+− (and not 55. Rxe6+? Kc5 transposing to the note after Black’s 52th move).
55. Rxe6+ Kc7 56. b4 Rb2 57. Re7+ Kc6 58. f5 Rxb4 59. f6. The Pawn cannot be stopped by reasonably fair means.
59. ... Rb1. 59. ... Rb5+! 60. Ke4! Rb1 61. f7+− is a technical win for White, while in case of 60. Ke6? (instead of 60. Ke4!) Grandmaster Sergei Yuryevich Shipov analysed a remarkable drawing variation: 60. ... Rb2!! 61. f7 b5 62. Rc7+ Kxc7 63. f8=Q Rc2!! with a fortress (instead, 60. ... Rb1?? and 63. ... Rc1 would lose the Rook by the Queen check at f4).
60. f7 Re1+ 61. Kf6 Rf1+ 62. Kg7 Rg1+ 63. Kf8 b5 64. Re5 Ra1 65. Kg7 Ra7 66. Kg6 1–0.

Goryachkina was one breath away from ruin. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

A Date to Play Subbuteo

Spartak Moscow defender Srđan Babić from Serbia played a friendly chess game with three-time Russian Women’s Champion Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina. On the occasion Babić, who grew interested in chess thanks to Netflix’s Queen’s Gambit, gallantly gave Goryachkina, reportedly a fan of the Red-Whites, his autographed jersey. Inevitably, however, the game was won by the “weak sex”, who nevertheless spent words of praise for her opponent.

Brick by Brick

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25; 3rd stage; Monte Carlo, February 26, 2025
Spanish Game C88

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Re8 10. d4. 10. Ng5 Rf8 may sound like an invitation for a draw by repetition.
10. ... h6 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Re1 Bf8 13. Bc2 Nb8 14. b3 Nbd7 15. Bb2 c6 16. a4 Qc7 17. c4!? This may be a novelty. If 17. Bd3 then 17. ... d5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. Qc2 Bd6 21. Nf3 Qh5 22. e5 Bxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. c4 d4 26. axb5 cxb5 27. cxb5 Qd5 28. Bf1 Rc8 29. Qd3 axb5 30. Rd1 b4 31. Bxd4 Ne4 32. Bb6 Qe6 33. Bd4 Bd5 34. Re1 Qc6 35. Qe3 Ng5 36. Qg3 Re8 37. Rxe8+ Qxe8 38. Be3 Ne4 39. Qc7 Bxb3 40. Qb7 Ng5 41. Qxb4 Bd5 42. Qg4 Qe4 43. Bxg5 Qxg4 ½–½ 陈琪 (Chén Qí) – Beliavsky, 18th Gibraltar Masters, Catalan Bay 2020.
17. ... b4 18. a5!? 18. c5 exd4 19. Bxd4 Rad8 leaves White with little or nothing.
18. ... Rad8. 18. ... exd4!? 19. Nxd4 g6 was perhaps Black’s most “thematic” treatment.

19. d5! Rc8 20. Bb1 Qd8 21. Nh2 g6 22. Ndf1 cxd5 23. cxd5 Rc5 24. Ra4

24. ... Bc8? The beginning of all trouble. Best was 24. ... Rb5! as after 25. Bd3 Nc5 26. Bxb5 axb5 27. Rxb4 (27. Ra2 Nfxe4 gives Black excellent compensation) 27. ... Qxa5 28. Qd2 Nd3! Black wins back the Exchange with at least an even game.
25. Ne3 Rxa5 26. Rxb4 Rc5 (26. ... Nb6 27. Nc4±)
27. Rc4 Rb5 28. Ba3 Qa5 29. Ra4 Qc7 30. Bd3 Rb8 31. b4 Nb6 32. Ra5 Be7 33. Qf3 Qc3 34. Qe2 Qc7 35. Rc1 Qd8 36. Nhf1 Ra8 37. Ng4 Nh5. Black is suffering on both wings. After 37. ... Nxg4 38. hxg4 she could not avoid the loss of the a-Pawn.
38. Nxh6+ Kg7? 38. ... Kf8 is comparatively better, but 39. Qf3 Nf4 40. Ng4 leaves White a Pawn ahead, with a crushing advantage.
39. Nf5+! Bxf5 40. exf5 Nf4 41. Qf3 Nxd3 42. Qxd3 Qd7 43. Rc6 Reb8 44. fxg6 fxg6

45. Bb2! With the destructive threat of Bb2xe5+.
45. ... Qf5 46. Qxf5 gxf5 47. f4 Bf6 48. Ng3 Kf7 49. Nxf5 Nc8 50. Rxc8! 1–0.

Add another to those heartbreaking case histories entitled “the Spanish Torture”, as Tartakower used to call the Ruy López. Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE.

Tea in the Desert

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25; 3rd stage; Monte Carlo, February 24, 2025
Spanish Game C82

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Qd7 10. Nbd2 Rd8 11. Qe2 Nc5 12. Nd4 Bg4 13. Qe3 Ne6 14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Qg3 Bf5 16. Nf3 Bc5 17. Kh1 Bd3 18. Re1 Qb6 19. Be3 0-0 20. Rad1 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Be4 22. Ng5 Nxg5 23. Qxg5 Qg6 24. h4 c6 25. f3 h6 26. Qf4 Bc2 27. Rd2 Bxb3 28. axb3 Rfe8 29. b4 Re6 30. Kh2 Rde8 31. Rde2 h5 32. Re1 Ra8 33. Qg5 a5 34. f4 Qxg5 35. hxg5 g6 36. bxa5 (36. Ra1!? a4 37. Kh3⩲)
36. ... Rxa5 37. g4 hxg4 38. Kg3 Kg7 39. Kxg4

39. ... Ra8?⊕ (39. ... Re8 40. Rh3 Ra4 41. Reh1 Re4=)
40. Rh3 Ree8 41. Reh1 Kf8

42. e6! Ra4 (42. ... fxe6 43. Rh7 b4!? 44. cxb4 Rab8 45. R1h6 Rxb4? 46. Ra7!+−)
43. exf7 Re7 (43. ... Ree4 44. Rh8+! Kxf7 45. R1h7+ Ke6 46. Rf8 Kd6 47. Rg7+−)

44. Rh8+! Kxf7 45. R1h6 Ree4 46. R6h7+ Ke6 47. Rf8 Kd6 48. Rg7 b4 49. Rxg6+ Kc5 50. Rgf6 Re2 51. Rc8 Ra6 52. cxb4+ Kxb4 53. Rcxc6 Ra1 54. Rfd6 Rd1 55. g6 d4 56. Kf5 Rg2 57. Rc7 d3 58. Rcd7 d2 59. g7 Rdg1 60. Rxd2 Rxd2 61. Rxd2 Rxg7 62. Kf6 1–0.

It was like a pool of quicksand after a long walk in the desert. Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE.

The Long Afternoon

Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25; 3rd stage; Monte Carlo, February 20, 2025
5k2/1bq1b3/1pp5/4Pp1p/2Pp1PpP/3P2K1/8/Q2BN3 w - - 3 75

Position after 74. ... Bc5-e7

With regard to the diagram, Black has a Pawn ahead and a manifest advantage. So it’s understandable that White rushes to take back her Pawn, so as to balance material. And yet...
75. Qxd4? And yet this is White’s losing mistake as it dramatically eases the entrance of Black’s light-squared Bishop into the scene. White’s best chance lay in 75. Qa7! Ke8 (75. ... c5? 76. Ba4!) 76. c5! sacrificing a second Pawn for light-square horizons and initiative.
75. ... c5! 76. Qc3?! Not good, but 76. Qe3 Qd8 is only another Zugzwang nightmare.
76. ... Qd8!? Or 76. ... Qc6! 77. e6 Kg8 winning by Zugzwang.
77. Ng2 Kg8 78. Bc2 Bxg2 79. Kxg2

79. ... Qa8+! 79. ... Bxh4? 80. Qa1! would give White concrete drawing chances.
80. Kg1 Qf3 81. Qd2 Qg3+ 82. Kf1 Qxh4 83. Qg2 g3 84. Bd1. If 84. Qf3 then 84. ... Qh3+ 85. Qg2 Qg4! and Black should win.
85. ... Qxf4+ 85. Qf3 Qxf3+! Naturally! The ending is easily won for Black in spite of Bishops of opposite colours.
86. Bxf3 h4 87. Kg2 Kg7 88. Bd5 Kg6 89. Kf3 Kg5 90. Bc6 Bd8 91. Bd7 Bc7 92. e6 Bd6 93. Bc6 Kf6 94. Bd5 h3 0–1.

Good blood does not lie

Oksana Yuryevna Goriachkina has apparently wanted to differentiate herself from her more famous elder sibling, Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, by transliterating her surname without y, but, as they say, “good blood does not lie”. That’s how, starting from the position in the diagram, she cracked and crushed an International Master in the ongoing 2nd Russian Team Cup:

Erik Igorevich Obgolts – Oksana Yuryevna Goriachkina
2nd Russian Team Cup; Sochi, November 30, 2024
2r2rk1/pp4p1/1q2p2p/1b1p2b1/6Q1/2N1P3/PP1R1PPP/1B2R1K1 b - - 5 24

Position after 24. Rc1-e1

24. ... Bxe3! 25. Rxe3 Or 25. fxe3 Qxe3+! 26. Rxe3 Rf1#.
25, ... Qxe3! 26. h3 (26. fxe3 Rf1#)
26. ... Qe1+ 27. Kh2

27. ... Rxc3 28. bxc3 Qxd2 29. Qxe6+ Kh8 30. Qg6 Qf4+ 31. Kh1 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Qf4+ 33. Kh1 Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf7 35. Qg6+ Ke7 36. Qxg7+ Rf7 37. Qh8 Qc1+ 38. Kh2 Qxb1 39. Qe5+ Kd8 40. Qb8+ Kd7 41. Qxb7+ Ke6 42. Qb8 Qd3 43. f4 Qc4 0–1.

Trading Places

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina and Magnus Carlsen were a cut above all others as both finished with 7½ points from nine rounds, two points more than their nearest rivals, in the 3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament and the 6th Tata Steel India Open Rapid Tournament respectively. Photo: Debasish Bhaduri.