Double Gold for India! Harika Dronavalli Dominates Asian Women's Rapid & Blitz Championships 2026
Indian Legend Harika Dronavalli clinched double gold at the Asian Women's Rapid & Blitz Championships 2026. Harika scored 8.5/11 points to win the Rapid, remaining unbeaten throughout the event. In Blitz, she scored 10.5/13 points to clinch Gold. Her historic double-gold performance brought home two trophies and a total cash prize of 33,000 HKD. The Tournament was organised from 28th to 30th July at the TWGHs Tungpo Kitty Woo Stadium in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Double Gold!!
I have always been a person who was never satisfied or appreciated my wins, always focusing on achieving bigger goals. But once I became a mom juggling many roles and trying to find balance, I learned to really appreciate everything that comes my way. So here it is: a moment to pause and appreciate myself, my close friends, and my family who are always there to support me. Listening to the National Anthem played twice today reminded me of why I started all this.
Can you find tactics from Harika's Games
Rapid
In the Rapid, Harika started the event as the top-seeded player and played like one. She won 6 games and drew 5 games to remain unbeaten and secure gold. Anna Shukhman also scored 8.5 points to secure the silver medal on tiebreak scores. Pham Le Thao Nguyen secured the bronze medal
Final Ranking after 11 Rounds
Rk. | SNo |
| Name | Typ | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | GM | 2413 | 8,5 | 1 | 6 | 73 | 2419 | ||||
2 | 7 | WGM | U18 | 2272 | 8,5 | 2 | 8 | 71,5 | 2357 | |||
3 | 5 | IM | 2296 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 73,5 | 2377 | ||||
4 | 4 | GM | 2306 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 72,5 | 2331 | ||||
5 | 8 | WGM | 2263 | 7,5 | 0 | 6 | 73,5 | 2328 | ||||
6 | 6 | WGM | 2291 | 7,5 | 0 | 6 | 68,5 | 2291 | ||||
7 | 11 | GM | 2214 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 70 | 2260 | ||||
8 | 14 | WFM | U16 | 2143 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 68 | 2166 | |||
9 | 26 | WGM | 1990 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 67 | 2283 | ||||
10 | 18 | WIM | 2106 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 2202 |
Replay Rapid Games
Blitz
Harika scored 10.5/13 to win the Gold medal in blitz. Harika lost only 1 game against Valentina Gunina. Valentia scored 10/13 points to win the Silver medal.
Final Ranking after 13 Rounds
Rk. | SNo |
| Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | GM | 2343 | 10,5 | 0 | 9 | 97,5 | 2407 | |||
2 | 4 | GM | 2297 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 97,5 | 2358 | |||
3 | 2 | WGM | 2381 | 9,5 | 0 | 9 | 96,5 | 2265 | |||
4 | 7 | WGM | 2243 | 9,5 | 0 | 8 | 98 | 2349 | |||
5 | 9 | IM | 2215 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 100 | 2308 | |||
6 | 28 | WFM | 1910 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 90,5 | 2152 | |||
7 | 8 | WGM | 2239 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 94,5 | 2174 | |||
8 | 13 | WGM | 2137 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 91 | 2184 | |||
9 | 1 | WGM | 2392 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 90 | 2158 | |||
10 | 15 | WGM | 2081 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 98,5 | 2250 |
Replay Blitz Games
Interview with Champ!
GM Harika made the country proud by winning two gold medals at the Asian Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong. In this interview, she speaks about her amazing victory, motherhood, and also how time has become extremely important for her as a player and mother! We analyze almost all of her games. In the end, Harika also speaks about not being part of Team India for the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026. Don't miss this amazing interview with one of the best female players that India has ever produced.