Round 1, Tiebreaks
Unlike previous editions, the Women’s World Cup is not being held in parallel with the FIDE World Cup 2025, scheduled for November.
As if the total prize fund of $691,250 USD, with $50,000 going to the winner, wasn’t enough to whet the players’ appetites, the World Cup also awards three spots to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament to be held in the first half of 2026.
The knockout tournament features seven rounds, and all rounds shall be played with two classical game matches, plus a tiebreak when necessary.
The time control for each classical game shall be: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.
Tiebreaks
- If the score is level after the two regular games, after a new drawing of colours done immediately after Game 2, two tie-break games shall be played with time control of 15 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
- If the score remains level, then after a new drawing of colours, 2 games shall be played with time control of 10 + 10.
- If the score remains level, then after a new drawing of colours, 2 games shall be played with time control of 5 + 3.
- If the score remains level, then after a new drawing of colours, 2 games shall be played with time control of 3 + 2.
- If the score remains level, then after a new drawing of colours, 2 games shall be played with time control of 3 + 2, with the colours reversed from the previous game.
- If the game described above is drawn, the same procedure shall be repeated until the first game won by one of the players.
Live games and commentary
This video course provides a comprehensive and practical White repertoire in the Ruy Lopez! Through instructive model games and in-depth theoretical explanations, you will learn how to confidently handle both main lines and sidelines.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: Overview
Free video sample: Chigorin: 9…Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7/cxd4
Commentary by GM Valeriane Gaprindashvili, WGM Almira Skripchenko (from round 2 onwards), and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili (for round one)
