5 January 2020
First Game of FIDE Women's World Championship Match is Drawn
Ju Wenjun to play as White in the second one.
The first game of the FIDE Women's World Championship Match between Ju Wenjun (China) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) was played in Shanghai on January 5.
The first symbolic moves were made by Aleksandr Shmanevskiy, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Shanghai, and Ye Jiangchuan, FIDE Vice-President, President of the Chinese Chess Association.
The Russian player had the white pieces. The rivals discussed the Catalan as Ju Wenjun had deviated from her major opening weapon, the Ragozin Defense. The queens were traded on the eighth move and the game continued in a smooth positional way. The most part of the struggle took place in the endgame with rooks and minor pieces (knight for White and bishop for Black), where Ju Wenjun had to be precise, while Aleksandra Goryachkina got a comfortable play.
Closer to the time control, Black's position worsened, however, the rook exchange on the 44th move allowed to defuse tension. Nevertheless, the game lasted for quite a long time and ended in a draw on move 97.
The second game will take place on January 6. Ju Wenjun will play as White.
Official website
Tournament page
Photos by Eteri Kublashvili
