New Delhi: Russia defeated India 3-1 in the FIDE World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2021 finals in Sitges, Spain to pick up gold.
India, which entered the tournament finals for the 1st time, bagged a silver medal. It is India’s first silver in any Women’s Team Chess Championship.
Russia started the tournament with its top three women grandmasters (WGM). WGM Kateryna Lagno’s continued dominance since the first board made the team victorious.
As the Indian team struggled with their moves in both rounds, WGM Harika Dronavalli made a comeback and defeated GM Aleksandra Goryachkina on the top board in round 1. The middle games in round 1 seemed to favour Lagno, who seamlessly won board 3 against Bhakti Kulkarni, whose active moves backfired.
Lagno continued to play some well-thought-out moves on board 4 and won matches by 2.5-1.5.
Though R. Vaishali was leading round 2 with Black at an advantage, her final blunder made Alexandra Kosteniuk win.
Besides, Mary Anne Gomes and Tania Sachdeva tried to beat the whites on boards 4 and 6, but their faults sank the team to the second spot.
The FIDE World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2021 was an International Chess tournament between 12 global chess-playing nations in a team format.
Hosted by Sitges, Spain, the events ran from September 28 to October 3.
(Avya Mathur)