Aleksandra Goryachkina Loses Game 10 of FIDE Women's World Championship Match

The score is 5.5-4.5 in favour of Ju Wenjun.

The 10th game of the FIDE Women's World Championship Match between Ju Wenjun (China) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) was played in Vladivostok on January 20.  

Alexander Verkhovsky, Chairperson of the Board of directors of Gidrostroy, general sponsor of the Match, and Oleg Gumenyuk, Head of Vladivostok, made first symbolic moves.

Aleksandra Goryachkina started the game with 1.c4 but, as it happened in Game 8, the QGD Carlsbad variation. The Chinese player opted for a different line on the sixth move, which led to a quick exchange of queens and several minor pieces. In the rook and bishop endgame, White's position was more preferable due to bad placement of the black bishop, which was locked on g6 by the pawns. 

It wasn't easy to ram Black's defence because of the lack of material but it was possible to methodically shake it by a slow pressing. However, White hastened to start a pawn assault on the queenside, which allowed Ju Wenjun to grab an open a-file and get a serious counter play. 

In general, the position was about equal but after the bishops were exchanged Black got a certain edge thanks to the passer. The world champion was confidently piling up the pressure and Aleksandra made a fatal mistake in a tough position after which her position has become hopeless. The Russian player resigned after Black's 62nd move.

The score is 5.5-4.5 in favour of Ju Wenjun.




January 21 is a rest day. The 11th game will be played on January 22 with Ju Wenjun having the white pieces. 

In the morning, FIDE Vice-President Nigel Short met with students of the Far Eastern Federal Univercity. Grandmaster told about his professional career and answered the questions. 

Photo album

The supervisor of the CFR Chess Museum, candidate of historical sciences Dmitry Oleynikov gave tours around the exhibition "Chess History Through the History of Pieces" to the guests of honour and to all who wished.

Official website

Tournament page

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili