Goryachkina keeps the World Championship alive

Game 12 of FIDE Women's World Championship Match 2020 was a must-win game for the Challenger Goryachkina. Only a win would force the match to go into tie-breaks and that is exactly what she did.

Goryachkina has her eyes focused on Ju Wenjun | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili / FIDE

Goryachkina brought her element of surprise with 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3. However that did not rattle the defending champion as she equalized easily out of the opening.

Goryachkina - Ju Wenjun, Game 12

Position after 30.Qe2

In the above diagram, black has the option to save either c4 or e4. However, Ju made the mistake of giving up both with 30...e3 which allowed Goryachkina the opportunity she was looking for. White continued with 31.Nxc4 and soon it was all over for Ju, as the Challenger was dominating and black was completely reeling.

Anish Giri rightly tweets, "When it comes to the plot, probably the most epic World Championship match ever"

Will Ju have the final laugh? | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili / FIDE

Anton Voloshko, Vice-Governor of Primorsky Region makes the ceremonial first move | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili / FIDE

 Nikita Anisimov, Far Eastern Federal University President, makes the ceremonial first move of Game 12 | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili / FIDE

The tie-break matches will take place on January 24 at 3:30 p.m. local time, 11:00 a.m. IST.

 

Live games and commentary

The games are slated to start at 15:30 local time, which is 11 a.m. IST. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move, starting from with move one. Agreed draws before move 40 are not allowed.

Commentary by GM Nigel Short & GM Hou Yifan | Video: FIDE

Replay all games

Schedule

Tie-break and closing ceremony will take place tomorrow 24th January | Photo: Official site

Links

Official site

Regulations

Chief Arbiter's Information