Harika Dronavalli (India) became the first player to qualify for the Main Event of the 2021 Women’s Speed Chess Championship, after beating Le Thao Nguyen Pham (Vietnam) in the final of the Qualifier I playoffs on May 28. This qualifier was a 9-round Swiss tournament (5+1 time control), with the top eight finishers advancing to the knockout playoff stage.

In the semifinals, Harika defeated Bibisara Assaubayeva from Kazakhstan (1.5-0.5) whereas Le Thao Nguyen Pham broke down the resistance of Polina Shuvalova (Russia) only in the third game to advance into the final.

It was all Dronavalli in the final who convincingly outplayed her Vietnamese opponent in both games and secured her spot in the Main Event of the 2021 Women’s Speed Chess Championship.

“It feels really good. Since we have so many qualifiers you don’t know when you actually qualify and you have to work hard every day. So it is very good to qualify on Day 1” said the happy winner in a short interview after the final  

Qualifier II will be on May 29 at 7 a.m. Pacific/16:00 CEST.

The FIDE Chess.com 2021 Women’s Speed Chess Championship is an online competition for titled female players. The qualifiers for the event will happen from May 28-June 6, while the main event runs June 10-July 3. Players will battle for their share of a total prize fund of $66,000.

One player from each playoff qualifier will move on to the main event. There they will be joined by eight invited players: GM Humpy Koneru (IND), GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS), GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL), GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR), GM Irina Krush (USA), GM Kateryna Lagno (RUS), GM Lei Tingjie (CHN).

Fans can follow the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship by watching the live broadcast with expert commentary on Chess.com/TV and Chess.com’s Twitch channel. They will also be able to enjoy the event through Chess.com’s Events page (https://www.chess.com/events).

More info and a full schedule of the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship can be found here.