Alexandra Goryachkina: fighting for the highest chess title is not over yet

On the 3rd of the February at the press conference in Salekhard Alexandra Goryachkina told about the matchup for the world chess crown and answered questions from journalists.

The international grandmaster returned to the capital of the region after the incredible tournament in Beijing and Vladivostok. The match between Ju Wenjun and Alexandra Goryachkina is called historical without exaggeration - passions ran high every second. A draw was recorded - 6:6 - at the end of 12 games. The destiny of the title was decided on the tiebreak, where the Chinese sportswoman was stronger.

As it should be noted, the match for the chess crown was unique, because it took place in two countries: Russia and China. The first part of the match was held in Shanghai from the 5th to the 12th of January, the second - in Vladivostok from the 16th to the 24th of January.

According to Andrey Masanov, the director of the department on physical culture and sports of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, first of all, such chess tournament is huge experience. It is gratifying that Alexandra won the right to compete for such a high title and proved herself worthily.

“Throughout January we followed the closely contested match between the chess player from Yamal and the current world champion from China. It was very exciting, but also nice that it was the close-fought match that reached the tiebreak”, he said.

The coach Yuriy Goryachkin is proud of his daughter.

“To play such a long match with a strong opponent and be close to winning is saying a lot. In addition, do not forget - she is still a young chess player. She has everything ahead of her”, he concluded.

The whole country watched Alexandra Goryachkina fighting for the world chess crown. In China and Vladivostok she had a large support group. In addition to coaches, Alexandra’s family also arrived to support her. She was also actively supported in Yamal: various flash mobs were organized, and all the games were watched live in the Polar chess school of Anatoly Karpov. Many people have even learned chess terms during this time.

According to Alexandra Goryachkina, it was difficult and stressful throughout the chess tournament.

“After the 9th and 10th games, when I was already on the verge of defeat, I decided to have a little rest and went with the team to the youth league hockey match in Vladivostok”, the grandmaster said.

Alexandra Goryachkina is sure that fighting for the highest chess title is not over yet.

The sportswoman from Yamal will not have to rest for a long time. In February she will start training, and in March she will go to Switzerland, where the 3rd stage of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix will be held.

Alexandra Goryachkina is the two-time Russian chess champion. At the age of thirteen she became the youngest chess woman grandmaster in the world. In 2014 the chess player won the title of the world champion among juniors under twenty (women). In the FIDE rating Goryachkina is ranked fourth, and Ju Wenjun is the second.