"VAN" (Sports Desk - 11.07.2025) :: Akaki Iashvili is the main man behind the Women’s World Cup. President of the Georgian Chess Federation, Chair of the FIDE Events Commission and Special Tasks Director of the FIDE Management Board, Akaki oversees the production and takes care of the day-to-day running of the event, along with FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky.
Both of them were joined this afternoon in the playing hall by Giorgi Murvanidze, Mayor of Batumi, a brilliant person and great supporter of the Georgian Chess Federation.
After congratulating all the players and wishing them the best of luck, Murvanidze played the first move for WGM Candela Be Francisco on board one.
In the second game of the round, I expected very solid play from most of the players who had already drawn the first game – no one really wants to be eliminated due to a costly mistake.
Among other reasons, the pay-jumps are already quite important: the 32 qualifiers for round three are guaranteed a €6,750 payday.
Indian IM Rout Padmini opted for this approach against 2021 World Cup winner GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, after the draw in their first game.
Against Kosteniuk’s Petroff Defence, Padmini chose a piece sacrifice that forces a perpetual check in eleven moves – a possibility that side-steps the 30-move no-draw rule.
In this position, theory suggests 6.Nxd7, 6.Nc3 or even 6.0-0 as interesting possibilities for a fight. However, Padmini chose 6.Nxf7 and after 6…Kxf7 7.Qh5+ Ke7 8.Qe2 pinning the knight, is a well-known theoretical continuation. Black has to return to f7 to avoid falling into a much worse position, and White has a draw with 9.Qh5+.
Of course, it’s also possible that Padmini wasn’t feeling well or that Kosteniuk had surprised her in the opening!
Other tough match-ups games that will be decided tomorrow in the tiebreak after two draws are:
FM Anastasia Avramidou – GM Kateryna Lagno
WIM Umida Omonova – IM Alina Kashlinskaya
IM Inna Gaponenko – GM Anna Muzychuk
WGM Thalia Cervantes – GM Mariya Muzychuk
IM Klaudia Kulon – WIM Priyanka K
GM Elina Danielian – GM Antoaneta Stefanova
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