Kazakhstani chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva won an exhibition Fischer Random (Chess960) match against Alexandra Kosteniuk, which took place in Weissenhaus, Germany. The match was held as part of the program of the men’s Fischer Random World Championship, DKNews.kz reports.
A prelude to the women’s world championship
The Women’s Exhibition Match is viewed as a preparatory event ahead of the first-ever Women’s Fischer Random World Championship, scheduled for 2027.
The match itself was played within the framework of the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026, where Norway’s Magnus Carlsen claimed victory in the men’s competition against seven super-grandmasters.
Change of opponent and strong lineup
Originally, Assaubayeva was expected to face multiple-time world champion Hou Yifan, but she was unable to obtain a Schengen visa. She was replaced by former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, who represents Switzerland.
At the time of the match, Kosteniuk ranked 13th in the FIDE standings with a rating of 2483, while Assaubayeva was 11th with a rating of 2497. The prize fund for the match totaled 15,000 US dollars.
How the games unfolded
The players contested four rapid games with a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment. On the first day, both players won with the white pieces, ending the day level.
On the second day, the third game proved decisive, as Kosteniuk, playing white, was forced to resign on move 38. In the final game, a draw was enough for Assaubayeva, and she confidently secured the match victory with a final score of 2.5–1.5.
Next major event — the Candidates Tournament
The victory in Weissenhaus became an important milestone ahead of one of the season’s key tournaments. Bibisara Assaubayeva will compete in the Women’s Candidates Tournament for the world chess crown, scheduled to take place from March 29 to April 15, 2026, in Paphos, Cyprus.
The winner of the tournament will earn the right to challenge the reigning world champion, China’s Ju Wenjun, who has held the title since 2018.
