# Women's World Chess Championship 2018 (November)

The Women's World Chess Championship 2018 was a knock-out tournament to crown a new women's world champion in chess. It was the second world championship held in 2018, after Ju Wenjun had defeated Tan Zhongyi to win the title in May 2018. The tournament was played as a 64-player knockout type from 2 to 23 November in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
Ju Wenjun won the tournament, and so retained the Women's World Championship.
The remaining three semi-finalists qualified for the 2019 Candidates Tournament, which decided the challenger for the 2020 World Championship.

## Organization
### Schedule

The schedule of the tournament:
* November 2: Opening ceremony
* November 3–5: Round 1
* November 6–8: Round 2
* November 9–11: Round 3
* November 12–14: Round 4 (quarter-finals)
* November 15–17: Round 5 (semi-finals)
* November 18: Rest day
* November 19–23: Round 6 (final)
* November 23: Closing ceremony

### Prize fund

The total prize fund was $450,000.
| Round | Players | Prize money (in $) |
| Winner | 1 | 60,000 |
| Runner-up | 1 | 30,000 |
| Semi-finals | 2 | 20,000 |
| Quarter-finals | 4 | 12,000 |
| Round of 16 | 8 | 8,000 |
| Round of 32 | 16 | 5,500 |
| Round of 64 | 32 | 3,750 |

### Regulations

The time control was 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, and then 30 minutes for the rest of the game; plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move 1.
In the event of a tie after the regular games, the following tie breaks were used, in order:
* Two tie-break games at a time limit of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move;
* Two tie-break games at a time limit of 10 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move;
* Two tie-break games at a time limit of 5 minutes plus a 3-second increment per move;
* Armageddon game, at a time limit of 5 minutes for White, and 4 minutes for Black, plus 3 seconds per move from move 61; with White having to win and Black having to draw or win.

## Players

The 64 participating players are:
    Format is player name, FIDE title, current Elo (October 2018), qualification path (see below). The winner's name is shaded.
* Ju Wenjun, GM, 2561 (R)
* Humpy Koneru, GM, 2557 (PN)
* Kateryna Lagno, GM, 2556 (E17)
* Anna Muzychuk, GM, 2555 (WC)
* Alexandra Kosteniuk, GM, 2551 (WC)
* Aleksandra Goryachkina, GM, 2536 (E16)
* Mariya Muzychuk, GM, 2533 (E17)
* Tan Zhongyi, GM, 2527 (WC)
* Valentina Gunina, GM, 2525 (R)
* Elisabeth Paehtz, IM, 2513 (E16)
* Nana Dzagnidze, GM, 2509 (E16)
* Dronavalli Harika, GM, 2500 (WC)
* Antoaneta Stefanova, GM, 2490 (E16)
* Natalija Pogonina, WGM, 2485 (E17)
* Zhansaya Abdumalik, IM, 2482 (J17)
* Nino Batsiashvili, GM, 2482 (PN)
* Olga Girya, WGM, 2479 (R)
* Zhao Xue, GM, 2478 (R)
* Lela Javakhishvili, IM, 2475 (E16)
* Dinara Saduakassova, IM, 2470 (J16)
* Bela Khotenashvili, GM, 2469 (E16)
* Lei Tingjie, GM, 2468 (R)
* Monika Socko, GM, 2451 (E17)
* Anna Ushenina, GM, 2451 (E16)
* Alina Kashlinskaya, IM, 2447 (E17)
* Ekaterina Atalik, IM, 2445 (E16)
* Alisa Galliamova, IM, 2432 (E17)
* Ni Shiqun, WGM, 2427 (Z3.5)
* Anastasia Bodnaruk, IM, 2423 (E16)
* Hoang Thanh Trang, GM, 2423 (E17)
* Jolanta Zawadzka, WGM, 2421 (E16)
* Irina Krush, GM, 2417 (Z2.1)
* Inna Gaponenko, IM, 2409 (E17)
* Marina Nechaeva, IM, 2409 (E17)
* Elina Danielian, GM, 2409 (E17)
* Sabrina Vega, IM, 2404 (E16)
* Natalia Zhukova, GM, 2403 (E17)
* Guliskhan Nakhbayeva, WGM, 2394 (AS17)
* Deysi Cori, WGM, 2391 (AM16)
* Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, WGM, 2385 (Z3.4)
* Lilit Mkrtchian, IM, 2384 (E16)
* Yuliya Shvayger, IM, 2375 (E16)
* Anita Gara, IM, 2370 (E17)
* Vo Thi Kim Phung, WGM, 2368 (Z3.3)
* Ana Matnadze, IM, 2362 (E16)
* Zhu Jin'er, WIM, 2360 (Z3.5)
* Carolina Luján, IM, 2359 (Z2.5)
* Zhai Mo, WGM, 2351 (Z3.5)
* Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, GM, 2345 (E16)
* Padmini Rout, IM, 2338 (Z3.7)
* Bhakti Kulkarni, CM, 2314 (AS16)
* Sabina-Francesca Foisor, WGM, 2311 (Z2.1)
* Sopiko Khukhashvili, IM, 2301 (E16)
* Yerisbel Miranda Llanes, WIM, 2239 (AM17)
* Mobina Alinasab, WIM, 2205 (Z3.1)
* Ingrid Aliaga Fernández, WIM, 2194 (AM17)
* Sun Fanghui, WIM, 2183 (Z3.5)
* Shahenda Wafa, WGM, 2148 (AF)
* Maili-Jade Ouellet, WIM, 2122 (Z2.2)
* Danitza Vázquez, WIM, 2086 (Z2.3)
* Rani Hamid, WIM, 1909 (Z3.2)
* Jesse Nikki February, WIM, 1893 (AF)
* Hayat Toubal, WIM, 1852 (AF)
* Kathryn Hardegen, WFM, 1832 (Z3.6)

### Qualification paths
## Results
### Final match

The final is the only match of the tournament which consists of four classical games. Those are played on consecutive days with a rest day between the semi-final tie-breaks and match 1. Eventual tie-breaks are scheduled for 23 November, in the same manner as the whole tournament (two rapid games of 25+10, i.e. 25 minutes for the whole game plus a 10-second increment, the two rapid games of 10+10, two blitz games of 5+3 and an armageddon decider).
Top seed Ju Wenjun, the reigning women's world champion and current women's rapid world champion, advanced to the final without playing a tie-break. Her opponent Kateryna Lagno played three tie-breaks including one armageddon game against Natalia Pogonina in the third round.
Before the final, both had played each other five times at classical time control with all games ending in a draw.
    Women's World Chess Championship 2018 Final Classical gamesTie-breaksTotal SeedPlayerRating (Oct 2018)1234R1R2R3R4 1 Ju Wenjun (CHN)2561½0½1½½115 3 Kateryna Lagno (RUS)2556½1½0½½003

### Bracket

Player positions were determined by the October FIDE rating list. No. 1 plays no. 64, 2 plays 63, and so on.

#### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | |
| 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | ½ | 1 | | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | ½ | 0 | | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | ½ | 0 | | ½ | 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | 1 | ½ | | 1½ | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 0 | ½ | | ½ | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1½ | 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 0 | ½ | | ½ | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | ½ | ½ | 1½ | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | ½ | ½ | 1½ | 2½ | | | | | | | 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 15 | Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) | 1 | 0 | 2½ | 3½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 0 | 1 | 3½ | 4½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 0 | 1 | 3½ | 4½ | 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | ½ | ½ | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | ½ | ½ | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 0 | 0 | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Rounds 1-4

| 1st Round | 1st Round | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 3rd Round | 3rd Round | | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals |
| 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Kathryn Hardegen (AUS) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Kathryn Hardegen (AUS) | 0 | 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 32 | Irina Krush (USA) | ½ | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Irina Krush (USA) | 3 | 32 | Irina Krush (USA) | ½ | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Inna Gaponenko (UKR) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Inna Gaponenko (UKR) | 1 | | | | 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | 1½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | 48 | Zhai Mo (CHN) | ½ | | | | |
| 16 | Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) | 2 | | | | | | | 48 | Zhai Mo (CHN) | ½ | | | | |
| 49 | Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (SCO) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (SCO) | 0 | 16 | Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 48 | Zhai Mo (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Olga Girya (RUS) | 0 | 48 | Zhai Mo (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 48 | Zhai Mo (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 48 | Zhai Mo (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | | 1 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | 1½ |
| | | | | | | | | | | 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | ½ |
| 8 | Tan Zhongyi (CHN) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | ½ |
| 57 | Sun Fanghui (CHN) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 57 | Sun Fanghui (CHN) | ½ | 8 | Tan Zhongyi (CHN) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | 2½ | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) | ½ | 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | 2½ | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | 1½ | | | | 40 | Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB) | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 9 | Valentina Gunina (RUS) | 1 | | | | |
| 9 | Valentina Gunina (RUS) | 1½ | | | | | | | 9 | Valentina Gunina (RUS) | 1 | | | | |
| 56 | Ingrid Aliaga Fernández (PER) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Ingrid Aliaga Fernández (PER) | ½ | 9 | Valentina Gunina (RUS) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 24 | Anna Ushenina (UKR) | ½ | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Anna Ushenina (UKR) | 1½ | 24 | Anna Ushenina (UKR) | ½ | | | | | | | |
| 41 | Lilit Mkrtchian (ARM) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | Rani Hamid (BAN) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | Rani Hamid (BAN) | 0 | 4 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 29 | Anastasia Bodnaruk (RUS) | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Anastasia Bodnaruk (RUS) | 2½ | 29 | Anastasia Bodnaruk (RUS) | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Sabrina Vega (ESP) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Sabrina Vega (ESP) | 1½ | | | | 4 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) | 2½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | 13 | Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 1½ | | | | |
| 13 | Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 3 | | | | | | | 13 | Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 1½ | | | | |
| 52 | Sabina-Francesca Foisor (USA) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 52 | Sabina-Francesca Foisor (USA) | 1 | 13 | Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 2½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 20 | Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ) | 3 | 20 | Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 45 | Ana Matnadze (ESP) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 45 | Ana Matnadze (ESP) | 1 | | | | | | | | 4 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) | 1½ |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 2½ |
| 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 2½ |
| 60 | Danitza Vázquez (PUR) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | Danitza Vázquez (PUR) | 0 | 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 28 | Ni Shiqun (CHN) | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Ni Shiqun (CHN) | 3½ | 28 | Ni Shiqun (CHN) | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Natalia Zhukova (UKR) | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Natalia Zhukova (UKR) | 2½ | | | | 5 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 3½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12 | Harika Dronavalli (IND) | 2½ | | | | |
| 12 | Harika Dronavalli (IND) | 2½ | | | | | | | 12 | Harika Dronavalli (IND) | 2½ | | | | |
| 53 | Sopiko Khukhashvili (GEO) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 53 | Sopiko Khukhashvili (GEO) | 1½ | 12 | Harika Dronavalli (IND) | 2½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 21 | Bela Khotenashvili (GEO) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Bela Khotenashvili (GEO) | 1½ | 21 | Bela Khotenashvili (GEO) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Võ Thị Kim Phụng (VIE) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 63 | Hayat Toubal (ALG) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 63 | Hayat Toubal (ALG) | 0 | 2 | Humpy Koneru (IND) | ½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 31 | Jolanta Zawadzka (POL) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Jolanta Zawadzka (POL) | 1½ | 31 | Jolanta Zawadzka (POL) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Marina Nechaeva (RUS) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Marina Nechaeva (RUS) | ½ | | | | 31 | Jolanta Zawadzka (POL) | 1½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | 15 | Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) | 2½ | | | | |
| 15 | Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) | 2½ | | | | | | | 15 | Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) | 2½ | | | | |
| 50 | Padmini Rout (IND) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 50 | Padmini Rout (IND) | 1½ | 15 | Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 18 | Zhao Xue (CHN) | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Zhao Xue (CHN) | 2 | 18 | Zhao Xue (CHN) | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Carolina Luján (ARG) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Carolina Luján (ARG) | 0 | | | | | | | | 15 | Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) | 3½ |
| | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 4½ |
| 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 4½ |
| 58 | Shahenda Wafa (EGY) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Shahenda Wafa (EGY) | 0 | 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 2½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 26 | Ekaterina Atalik (TUR) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Ekaterina Atalik (TUR) | 3 | 26 | Ekaterina Atalik (TUR) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Deysi Cori (PER) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Deysi Cori (PER) | 1 | | | | 7 | Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | 1½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | 55 | Mobina Alinasab (IRI) | ½ | | | | |
| 10 | Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) | ½ | | | | | | | 55 | Mobina Alinasab (IRI) | ½ | | | | |
| 55 | Mobina Alinasab (IRI) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Mobina Alinasab (IRI) | 1½ | 55 | Mobina Alinasab (IRI) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 23 | Monika Socko (POL) | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Monika Socko (POL) | 1½ | 23 | Monika Socko (POL) | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 42 | Yuliya Shvayger (ISR) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Jesse Nikki February (RSA) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Jesse Nikki February (RSA) | 0 | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 30 | Hoang Thanh Trang (HUN) | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Hoang Thanh Trang (HUN) | 2½ | 30 | Hoang Thanh Trang (HUN) | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Elina Danielian (ARM) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Elina Danielian (ARM) | 1½ | | | | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 14 | Natalija Pogonina (RUS) | 4 | | | | |
| 14 | Natalija Pogonina (RUS) | 1½ | | | | | | | 14 | Natalija Pogonina (RUS) | 4 | | | | |
| 51 | Bhakti Kulkarni (IND) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 51 | Bhakti Kulkarni (IND) | ½ | 14 | Natalija Pogonina (RUS) | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 46 | Zhu Jiner (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) | 0 | 46 | Zhu Jiner (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 46 | Zhu Jiner (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 46 | Zhu Jiner (CHN) | 2 | | | | | | | | 3 | Kateryna Lagno (RUS) | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 0 |
| 6 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 0 |
| 59 | Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) | ½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) | ½ | 6 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 27 | Alisa Galliamova (RUS) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Alisa Galliamova (RUS) | 2½ | 27 | Alisa Galliamova (RUS) | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 38 | Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ) | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 38 | Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ) | 1½ | | | | 27 | Alisa Galliamova (RUS) | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 3 | | | | |
| 11 | Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | 2 | | | | | | | 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 3 | | | | |
| 54 | Yerisbel Miranda Llanes (CUB) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 54 | Yerisbel Miranda Llanes (CUB) | 0 | 11 | Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | ½ | | | | | | | |
| | | | 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 3 | 22 | Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 1½ | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Anita Gara (HUN) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |