Shuvalova and Vaishali Upset Women’s World Champions in Quarterfinals of 2024 Julius Baer Women’s Speed Chess Championship

In a thrilling day of chess action, IM Polina Shuvalova and GM Vaishali Rameshbabu emerged victorious against their women’s world champion opponents in the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Julius Baer Women’s Speed Chess Championship on Monday.

Shuvalova pulled off a stunning upset by knocking out women’s world number one, GM Hou Yifan, in a tiebreaker. Despite trailing initially, Vaishali staged a remarkable comeback with a three-game winning streak to defeat GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.

The Quarterfinals action continues on Tuesday, September 3, with GM Kateryna Lagno taking on GM Valentina Gunina, followed by GM Ju Wenjun facing off against IM Alice Lee.

The day’s matches showcased the resilience and skill of the younger generation of players, as both Shuvalova and Vaishali avenged their defeats from the previous year’s Quarterfinals. The Semifinals are now set with Shuvalova and Vaishali set to battle it out for a spot in the finals.

The Julius Baer Women’s Speed Chess Championship features some of the strongest female chess players competing for a $75,000 prize fund. The event follows a single-elimination format with matches played at different time controls. Stay tuned for more exciting chess action as the tournament progresses.