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The knockout phase of the Women's World Team Championship began on Friday in Linares, signalling the transition from round-robin manoeuvring to direct elimination. With preparation, stamina and resilience now taking centre stage, the quarterfinals produced a series of tightly contested matches, unexpected swings and several results that were only settled in rapid-fire blitz playoffs.
The ceremonial opening of the round was conducted by María Auxiliadora del Olmo Ruíz, Mayor of Linares, together with Deputy Mayor Raúl Caro-Accino.
Spanish Chess Federation President Javier Ochoa and María Auxiliadora del Olmo Ruíz, Mayor of Linares, were present in the quarterfinals | Photo: Raúl Martínez
The day's clearest result came in the meeting between the FIDE squad and Uzbekistan. The rating differences on all four boards already suggested a challenging afternoon for the Uzbek team, and the Russian squad made full use of their greater depth by rotating in one of their strongest reserves.
The outcome was straightforward: two 3½–½ match wins that left no room for doubt and sent Russia into the semifinals, where they will face China. Among several strong performances, Kateryna Lagno's technical win over Umida Omonova stood out. Although Omonova suffered a tough pairing, she nonetheless concluded the event having reached the rating threshold for the WGM title, adding a significant milestone to her already decorated youth career.
Kateryna Lagno from Russia | Photo: Pavel Dvorkovich
China's path to the semi-finals involved considerably more tension. Although the presence of GM Hou Yifan on board one gave the Chinese team a slight edge on paper, the Americans arrived with a more experienced lineup and struck first. The United States won the opening match 3–1, placing the pressure squarely on China to respond.
The second match saw dramatic shifts: Hou Yifan lost with white to Carissa Yip, and Anna Sargsyan put Song Yuxin under sustained pressure. A 2–2 draw in this second classical match would have been sufficient for the United States, but Song defended resourcefully and eventually held, taking the duel to a blitz tiebreak.
In the 3+2 playoff, China dominated from start to finish, delivering a commanding 3½–½ score to move into the final four.
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
China's Zhai Mo | Photo: Pavel Dvorkovich
One of the surprises of the afternoon was Azerbaijan's victory over Georgia, a team that had excelled throughout the preliminary phase.
Their first match already hinted at a volatile contest: it finished 2–2, with all four games producing decisive results and neither side showing interest in a quiet approach. Azerbaijan carried this momentum into the return match and ultimately secured their place in the semi-finals. Their win removes one of the pre-event favourites from contention and sets up a meeting with Kazakhstan for a place in the final.
Ulviyya Fataliyeva from Azerbaijan | Photo: Pavel Dvorkovich
Kazakhstan began their duel with India as slight favourites on rating and quickly justified that status with a 3–1 win in the opening match, where once again no game ended peacefully. India replied strongly, however, producing a 2½–1½ victory in the second match to force a blitz decider.
The first set of 3+2 games saw three draws, raising the prospect of another tiebreak round. The duel was resolved only when Meruert Kamalidenova delivered a crucial win, securing Kazakhstan’s progression to the semifinals and bringing an end to India’s spirited run.
Kazakh star Bibisara Assaubayeva | Photo: Pavel Dvorkovich
With the quarterfinals completed, the semifinal pairings are now confirmed:
Under the tournament regulations, each knockout duel consists of two matches played at the same time control used in the qualifying stage: 45 minutes with a 30-second increment from move one. If a duel finishes level - either with each team winning one match or with both matches drawn - board points are discarded and blitz games decide the winner.
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