Round 1, Game 1
Unlike previous editions, the Women`s World Cup this year is not being held simultaneously with the FIDE World Cup 2025, which is scheduled for November.
Beyond the impressive total prize fund of $691,250 USD, with $50,000 allocated to the winner, the World Cup is a crucial qualifier. It grants three coveted spots to the FIDE Women`s Candidates Tournament, set to take place in the first half of 2026.
The tournament format is a knockout featuring seven rounds. Each match in every round consists of two classical games. If the score is tied after these games, a tiebreak will be played to decide the winner.
The time control for each classical game is set at 90 minutes for the initial 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. A 30-second increment per move is applied starting from move 1.
Tiebreaks
- If the match score is tied after the two classical games, a new drawing of colors is performed immediately. Then, two tie-break games are played with a time control of 15 minutes per player plus a 10-second increment starting from move 1.
- If the score remains tied after the 15+10 games, another drawing of colors takes place, followed by two games played with a time control of 10+10 minutes per player.
- Should the score still be level, after a new drawing of colors, two games will be played with a time control of 5+3 minutes per player.
- If the tie persists, another drawing of colors precedes two games played with a time control of 3+2 minutes per player.
- If the score is still tied after the first set of 3+2 games, two more games will be played with the same 3+2 time control, but with colors reversed from the previous pair of games.
- If the game described above is drawn, this sudden-death procedure (3+2 games with reversed colors, repeated) will be repeated until the first game won by one of the players, determining the match winner.
Live games and commentary
Elton Marrow