The Women’s Candidates Tournament commenced in Pegeia with a captivating first round, where all four games resulted in draws. Despite the equal outcomes, the matches were far from uneventful, featuring numerous missed opportunities for victory, notably by Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina. This prestigious event, held concurrently with the open section for the second time, gathers a strong field of eight players: five experienced participants returning from the previous cycle and three exciting young talents. The initial pairings included two intriguing national matchups. The tournament draw saw late adjustments following the withdrawal of Humpy Koneru. The opening day was marked by visible time pressure on players and a series of unexpected opening variations.
