Assaubayeva Secures Spot in Upcoming Freestyle Chess Women’s World Championship
Assaubayeva Secures Spot in Upcoming Freestyle Chess Women’s World Championship
Weissenhaus, Germany – In a thrilling exhibition match held over the weekend, Kazakh grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva triumphed over former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, earning her a coveted spot in the forthcoming FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship scheduled for 2026.
The four-game contest, part of the ongoing World Championship festivities, showcased the talents of both players, who are ranked 11th and 13th respectively in the women’s classical chess ratings. The match format mirrored the knockout stage of the main championship, featuring a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move.
The competition kicked off on Saturday, with Assaubayeva playing with the white pieces in the first game. The players exchanged victories, leaving the match tied at 1–1 after the opening day. However, Sunday proved to be decisive for the 21-year-old Assaubayeva.
In the first game of the day, she seized the lead with a victory while playing black, showcasing her tactical prowess against the more experienced Kosteniuk. The final game, lasting an intense 58 moves, saw Assaubayeva hold her ground to secure a draw, ultimately clinching the match with a score of 2½–1½.
Kosteniuk, who had two minor pieces for a rook in the last game, was unable to convert her advantage into a win, thanks to Assaubayeva’s impeccable defensive technique. The draw was agreed after White’s 58th move, sealing Assaubayeva’s victory and her place in the upcoming championship.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Assaubayeva, who previously competed in the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in July 2025, where she was the only female participant. Since then, she has continued to excel in classical and blitz formats, recently claiming her third women’s world blitz title in Doha and achieving an impressive performance rating at the Tata Steel Challengers.
Kosteniuk, 41, remains a formidable force in women’s chess, currently ranked seventh in the women’s rapid list. Her illustrious career includes being the first unofficial women’s chess960 world champion in 2006, a title she successfully defended in 2008.
As the chess world eagerly anticipates the FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship, Assaubayeva’s recent success has positioned her as a rising star to watch in the competitive landscape of chess.
Photo Credits:
Bibisara Assaubayeva | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Lennart Ootes
Alexandra Kosteniuk | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Carlotta Wessel