Bibisara Assaubayeva clinches Norway Chess Women 2026 with a round to spare

By admin June 5, 2026 0 comments

Bibisara Assaubayeva lost her penultimate round match to the defending champion, Anna Muzychuk. Still she won Norway Chess Women 2026

Anna becomes the sole player to beat Bibisara twice

The reigning three-time World Blitz Women’s champion, Bibisara Assaubayeva won Norway Chess Women 2026 with a round to spare. She took an unassailable lead despite losing the match to now previous champion, Anna Muzychuk. Anna is also the only player to have won both matches against Bibisara. Jiner Zhu moved to second place 13/27, after defeating Divya Deshmukh. Anna is at third 12/27. The reigning five-time Women’s World Champion, Wenjun Ju survived a disaster against Humpy Koneru in Armageddon to win the game and match. She is at 10.5/27. The final round will determine the rest of the podium.

*Bibisara Assaubayeva won Norway Chess Women 2026 with a round to spare | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

*Bibisara Assaubayeva’s betrothed and the World Championship Challenger – Javokhir Sindarov high-five’s her after she became the champion | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

Bibisara – Anna: 1-1.5

The reigning three-time World Blitz Women’s champion, Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2527) made a quick draw in 22 moves against Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2522). The Armageddon also ended in a draw. Since Anna had the black pieces, she won the match. Thus, the defending champion, Anna became the only player to win both matches against the eventual champion, Bibisara at this event.

*The previous winner, Anna Muzychuk did not go down against the new winner, Bibisara Assaubayeva at this event | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

*Divya Deshmukh lost the rematch against Jiner Zhu | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

*Humpy Koneru missed her winning chance in Armageddon, ended up losing the game and match against Wenjun Ju | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

*Round 9 in progress | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

Replay Round 8 games

Round 9 Women results

Divya Deshmukh – Jiner Zhu (CHN): 0-3

Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) – Anna Muzychuk (UKR): 1-1.5

Humpy Koneru – Wenjun Ju (CHN): 1-1.5

Standings after Round 9

*Bibisara Assaubayeva took an unassailable lead 16.5/27, thus winning the event with a round to go | Graphic: Norway Ches*s

Round 10 pairings

Jiner Zhu (CHN) – Humpy Koneru

Wenjun Ju (CHN) – Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ)

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) – Divya Deshmukh

*Open and Women pairings of all rounds | Graphic: Norway Chess*

Format

6 players will take part in the Tournament.

The Tournament is a double-round event with Armageddon.

The Tournament consists of 10 rounds.

Berger tables will be used for the pairings.

Default time is 15 minutes.

Time Control

Each player will have 120 minutes on the clock with an increment of 10 seconds starting from move 41. The time control for the Armageddon game: white has 10 minutes and black has 7 minutes with an increment for both players of 1 second per move, starting from move 41.

Draw by Mutual Agreement

Players are not allowed to agree to a draw until at least 30 moves have been made by each player. This rule does not apply to Armageddon games.

Armageddon

If the classical game is drawn, an Armageddon game will be played. It shall start within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the classical game. The player with White pieces will continue with White in Armageddon. If the Armageddon game is drawn, black will win.