Wenjun becomes first woman to defend Women's Chess World Championship
Baku, November 23, AZERTAC
China’s Ju Wenjun retained her Women’s World Chess Championship title after she beat Russia’s Kateryna Lagno in a tie-break today, according to insidethegames.biz.
Today’s action at the Ugra Chess Academy in the Russian town of Khanty-Mansiysk saw the players face off in two 25-minute “rapid” games and two 10-minute “blitz” matches.
Among the fans watching the contest were Russia's Deputy Minister of Sport Sergey Kosilov and the World Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich.
The first two 25-minute contests ended in draws, but the first shorter game was won by Wenjun following a mistake from her opponent.
The defending champion won a pawn and was able to gradually build from there.
In the second short game Wenjun took full control, taking Lagno’s queen before sealing the win.
It means the Chinese player is the first woman in history to defend a world title in a knock-out championships.
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