GM Valentina Gunina (RUS) defeated IM Meri Arabidze (GEO) in Qualifier VIII (3+1) for the 2021 Women's Speed Chess Championship. Valentina's grit and determination paid off as she secured the last spot in the main event after playing for more than nine hours straight – she lost in the final of Qualifier VII (1+1), which took earlier in the day and saw the victory of WGM Deysi Cori from Peru.

“It was fun. I feel really exhausted but it was fun. I could not control my nerves in the first qualifier, and I did not make it then… And now I am going to sleep” said Valentina in a short interview after her marathon playing session.

Now the qualifiers will be joined by eight invited players to compete in the 2021 Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event. The round of 16 starts on June 10. 

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 from June 10 to July 3. Players will battle for their share of a total prize fund of $66,000.

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.