Event finished
🏆 Rapid: Vaishali Rameshbabu
🏆 Blitz: Kateryna Lagno
Tokyo had two champions: Vaishali Rameshbabu won the Rapid (1.5–0.5 over Nurman), Kateryna Lagno won the Blitz (over Kosteniuk in the Armageddon final).
Overview
About the event
The WR Women's Chess Tour is a global knockout circuit featuring five legs across four continents in 2026. 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.
Outcome
Final 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 Blitz
Kateryna Lagno 3 Azumi Sakai 0 Alexandra Kosteniuk 3 Alua Nurman 0 Irine Kharisma Sukandar 2.5 Antoaneta Stefanova 2.5 (Arm) Vaishali Rameshbabu 3 Anna Sargsyan 1 Kateryna Lagno 3 Vaishali Rameshbabu 0 Alexandra Kosteniuk 3.5 Irine Kharisma Sukandar 0.5 Kateryna Lagno 2.5 Alexandra Kosteniuk 2.5 (Arm) | Rank | Player | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Vaishali Rameshbabu | 15 pts (Rapid 10 + Blitz 5) · Grand Final |
| 2 | Kateryna Lagno | 15 pts (Rapid 5 + Blitz 10) · Grand Final |
| 3 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 13 pts (Rapid 5 + Blitz 8) |
| 4 | Alua Nurman | 10 pts (Rapid 8 + Blitz 2) |
| 5 | Irine Kharisma Sukandar | 7 pts (Rapid 2 + Blitz 5) |
| 6 | Antoaneta Stefanova | 4 pts (Rapid 2 + Blitz 2) |
| 7 | Anna Sargsyan | 4 pts (Rapid 2 + Blitz 2) |
| 8 | Azumi Sakai | 4 pts (Rapid 2 + Blitz 2) |
For viewers
Watch the replays
Catch up on every round on demand:
- YouTube WR Chess — Live broadcast (Blitz, June 7) →
- YouTube WR Chess — Rapid replay (June 6) →
- Lichess Lichess — live games & boards →
Broadcast schedule (Tokyo time)
- 6 Jun — Rapid knockout — QF, SF, Final
- 7 Jun — 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.
- Player arrivals & accreditation
- Rapid knockout
- Blitz knockout
- Departures
Total prize fund
$40,000
Rapid
$20,000
Blitz
$20,000
Part of the WR Women's Chess Tour 2026 — five legs across four continents.
For media
Press & media
Press contact
