The FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024 commenced yesterday in Toronto, Canada! The event will determine who will challenge the reigning Women’s World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun in the World Championship match next year.
Three games finished in a draw yesterday, and only one result came decisive. Defeating GM Lei Tingjie (China, 2550), GM Tan Zhongyi (China, 2521) emerged as the early leader in the event.
Playing black, Tan Zhongyi won a pawn after the opening, but the position still seemed drawish. However, Tan pressed further and didn’t leave Lei any chance for counterplay. Lei Tingjie tried to defend, but Tan Zhongyi’s impeccable endgame technique prevailed and the latter scored the first victory in the tournament.
GM Lei Tingjie vs GM Tan Zhongyi 0-1
Tan Zhongyi is a former Women’s World Champion, winning her title in a knockout format in 2017 and subsequently losing it to her compatriot and current Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun. This first-round win is a strong indication to the rest of her colleagues that she’s serious in her pursuit of regaining the Women’s World Champion title.ย
The remaining three matchups, Aleksandra Goryachkina vs Kateryna Lagno, Vaishali R vs Humpy Koneru, and Anna Muzychuk vs Nurgyul Salimova, were balanced, and draws came as a logical result. Round 1 results & Standings can be found here.
Nurgyul Salimova, playing in her very first Candidates, said that she was happy to start the event with a draw and become familiar with the playing hall and the tournament routine to offset her pre-tournament nervousness and excitement.ย
