Overview
About the event
The WR Women's Chess Tour is a global knockout circuit featuring five legs across four continents in 2026, with a total prize fund of $200,000. The Tokyo stage is the opening leg of the circuit.
The tournament is broadcast live on the Japan Chess Federation's YouTube channel. On June 8, Alexandra Kosteniuk will host a simultaneous exhibition exclusively for female JCF members.
Updating in real time
Live results
Rapid
Alexandra Kosteniuk 2 
Azumi Sakai 0 
Kateryna Lagno 1.5 
Anna Sargsyan 1.5 (Arm) 
Alua Nurman 2 
Antoaneta Stefanova 0 
Vaishali Rameshbabu 1.5 
Irine Kharisma Sukandar 0.5 Vaishali Rameshbabu 1.5 Alexandra Kosteniuk 0.5 Alua Nurman 1.5 Kateryna Lagno 0.5 Vaishali Rameshbabu 1.5 Alua Nurman 0.5 | Rank | Player | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Vaishali Rameshbabu | Rapid winner (final 1.5–0.5) |
| 2 | Alua Nurman | Rapid runner-up |
| 3 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | Rapid semifinalist |
| 3 | Kateryna Lagno | Rapid semifinalist |
For viewers
How to follow
Every official channel in one place:
Broadcast schedule (Tokyo time)
- Jun 6 — Rapid knockout — QF, SF, Final
- Jun 7 — Blitz knockout — QF, SF, Final
Venue & travel
The field
Players
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk
Rating TBA
Invited
GM Vaishali Rameshbabu
Rating TBA
Invited
GM Kateryna Lagno
Rating TBA
Invited
GM Antoaneta Stefanova
Rating TBA
Invited
IM Alua Nurman
Rating TBA
FIDE qualifier
IM Anna Sargsyan
Rating TBA
FIDE qualifier
IM Irine Kharisma Sukandar
Rating TBA
FIDE qualifier
WCM Azumi Sakai
Rating TBA
FIDE qualifier
For players & arbiters
Format & regulations
- System
- 8-player single-elimination knockout — Rapid and Blitz
- Rounds
- Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final
- Time controls
-
- Rapid: Rapid time control
- Blitz: Blitz time control
- Tiebreak
- Sudden-death deciders if scores are level.
- 4 wild cards
- 4 qualifiers (incl. local representative)
Programme
Schedule
All times local to Tokyo, Japan.
- Quarterfinals (Games 1–2 + Armageddon)
- Semifinals (Games 1–2)
- Final (Games 1–2)
- Quarterfinals (Games 1–4 + Armageddon)
- Semifinals (Games 1–4 + Armageddon)
- Final (Games 1–4 + Armageddon)
- Simultaneous exhibition — Alexandra Kosteniuk (female JCF members only)
Total prize fund
$20,000
Part of WR Women's Chess Tour 2026 — $200,000 total across 5 legs (Grand Final: $120,000).
For media
Press & media
Press contact
