June 13, 2022 – International Chess Federation

WGM Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) became the first quarterfinalist of the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship 2022 after defeating the reigning World Women’s Blitz Champion Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) in a very close Round of 16 match.

Vaishali started right out of the gate, grabbed the lead and won the first 5+1 segment by a score of 5-3. She stretched her lead to three points in the next 3+1 portion of the match, but Bibisara stormed back in bullet, scoring three straight victories and narrowing the gap to just one point with the last game to play.

It all came down to the final game in which Assaubayeva blundered Vaishali’s rook penetration to the seventh rank and capitulated soon afterwards.

The next Round of 16 match will be played on Tuesday, June 14, at 6:30 a.m. PT/15:30 CET. The last-year finalist GM Harika Dronavalli will take on WGM Deysi Cori.

To follow the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship, watch a live broadcast of the event with expert commentary on Chess.com/TV and Chess.com Twitch Channel.

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

George Mwale and Desiderata Nkhoma emerged victorious at their home event, Malawi Chess Open Championship 2022. The competition, financially supported by FIDE Aid Package, took place in Lilongwe from June 9-12.

The open section brought together 26 players competing in a 9-round Swiss tournament. It turned into a close race between George Mwale and Geoffrey Luanja from Zambia, who scored 7/9 each and tied for the first place. Mwale, who used the event as part of his preparation for the FIDE Chess Olympiad, came out on top thanks to a greater number of victories.

The highest-rated participant William Mwape netted 6½/9 and took third place.

Final standings Open:

1	Mwale, George	MAW	2025	7
2	Luanja, Geoffrey	ZAM	2150	7
3	Mwape, William	ZAM	2177	6½
4	Kamwendo, Precious	MAW	1934	6
5	Mwale, Joseph	MAW	2154	6
6	Chimthere, Alfred Charles	MAW	2047	5½
7	Mwape, Dennis	ZAM	2013	5½
8	Chiona, Richard	MAW	1896	5
9	Sharra, Leonard	MAW	1803	5
10	Mawango, Davie	MAW	1888	5

In the women’s section, a 7-round Swiss tournament, the rating-favourite Desiderata Nkhoma got off to a poor start losing her first-round game but then picked up steam and finished clear first. Aaliya Patel and Susan Namangale were a half-point behind and tied for second place. The second position on the podium goes to unrated Patel, who beat Namangale in the direct encounter.

Final standings Women:

1	Nkhoma, Desiderata	MAW	1465	5½
2	Patel, Aaliya	MAW	0	5
3	Namangale, Susan	MAW	1247	5
4	Mpinganjira, Ellen	MAW	1346	4
5	Msukwa, Tupokiwe	MAW	1362	3½
6	Banda, Tapiwa	MAW	1213	3½
7	Kapende, Sharom	MAW	1318	3
8	Khanyera, Dalitso	MAW	0	2½
9	Tadeyo, Charity	MAW	1134	2
10	Msiska, Royce	MAW	1250	1

Photo: Gilton Mkumbwa

MAIN/NEWS

RATINGS

CHAMPIONSHIP

CALENDAR

FIDE

DIRECTORY

PARTNERS

SHOP

CONTACTS

WSCC 2022: Vaishali advances to quarterfinals

Mwale and Nkhoma win Malawi Open Championship 2022