Ulviyya Fataliyeva prevails at 4th International Women’s Chess Championship 2026 Masters, Harika Dronavalli third

IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE) scored 6.5/9 to win 4th International Women’s Chess Championship 2026 Masters in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) scored 6/9 to secure second place. GM Harika Dronavalli scored 5.5/9 to finish third. The total prize fund was US$ 70000, $36500 in the Masters. The top three prizes were US$ 8000, 6000 and 5000.

Harika is the sole player to beat the eventual champion Ulviyya

Only GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) remained undefeated in the Masters. The next best thing to winning the tournament, is to beat the winner of the event. Despite starting her campaign with a loss, GM Harika Dronavalli bounced back and scored 5.5 points in her next eight games to finish third. Among them, she managed to beat the eventual champion, IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE) in the

Champion – IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE) 6.5/9 | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Runner-up – GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) 6/9 | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Second Runner-up – GM Harika Dronavalli 5.5/9 | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Harika – Ulviyya, Round 6

Position after 43.fxg4

IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva’s (AZE, 2431) first big mistake in the rook endgame was 43…Rh3?? 44.Rd6+ Ke7 45.Ra6 gave GM Harika Dronavalli (2466) a decisive advantage. 43…Rc3/a1/a2/b3 would have been fine for Black. 45…Rxh4 46.Rxa5 Rb1 47.Ra8 Rb1 48.Ra7+? allowed Black to get back in the game Ke6 49.Ra6+ Ke7 50.Kg5 Rb4 51.e6 fxe6 52.a5 Ra4 53.Ra8 Kf7 54.Ra7+ Ke8 55.a6 Kd8?? was the final mistake by Black. 56.Ra8+ and now Black can no longer salvage a half point.

GM Harika Dronavalli during one of her games | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

All players of the Masters section | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Replay all Masters games

The ten-player five-day nine-round Masters (≥2450) Rating tournament was organized by Uzbekistan Chess Association in Bukhara, Uzbekistan from 10th to 14th March 2026. The time control of the tournament was 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

Final standings in Masters

Details