Kevin C. Wong

FIDE World Cup 2021

FIDE World Cup 2021 started last week and runs through the beginning of next month. Some Twitch chess streamers participated though early exits abound. Looking at streamers and USA players:


Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (USA) beat Carolina Lujan (ARG) 1.5-0.5 then lost to Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) 0-2.

Jennifer Yu (USA) beat Klaudia Kulon (POL) 3-1 then lost to Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ) 0-2.

Carissa Yip (USA) beat Sharmin Shirin Sultana (BGD) 2-0 and is tied with Nataliya Buksa (UKR) 1-1.

Elizabeth Paehtz (GER) got a bye first round and is tied with Nurgyul Salimova (BGR) 1-1.

Tatev Abrahamyan (USA) beat Viktoria Radeva (BGR) 2-0 then lost to Anna Muzychuk (UKR) 0-2.

Pia Cramling (SWE) (Anna's mom) got a first round bye and is tied with Monika Socko (POL) 1-1.

Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) got a first round bye then defeated Deysi Cori T. (PER) 2-0.

Jesse Nikki February (ZAF) lost to Valentina Gunina (RUS) 0.5-1.5.

Qiyu "Nemo" Zhou (CAN) lost to Vaishali R (IND) 0-2.

Dina Belenkaya (RUS) lost to Teodora Injac (SRB) 0-2.


Although Anna Muzychuk streamed for a while on Twitch she hasn't in a few months so that leaves Alexandra Kosteniuk as the strongest chess streamer left (and she's former Women's World Champion). I regularly watch Jesse February and Nemo and sometimes watch Dina Belenkaya and her sister so it's sad they all lost in the first round. I happened to be awake at 0500 Monday and Tuesday and watched Anna Cramling commentate on Nemo's games (and the other female chess streamers).

I haven't looked at the Open bracket but maybe next week.