Linares: China v. USA among quarterfinal pairings

The preliminary stage of the Women’s World Team Championship concluded on Thursday in Linares, with Russia and Georgia topping their respective groups and eight teams advancing to the knockout phase. The final round brought clear outcomes in both pools, alongside a few notable surprises, including India’s qualification with a reserve lineup and Ukraine’s early exit after two costly defeats. Several intriguing matchups now await in the quarterfinals, most notably China v. United States. | Pictured: Russian IM Polina Shuvalova | Photo: Pavel Dvorkovich