FIDE Team Dominates World Women’s Team Championship 2025 — Shuvalova’s 9.5/10 Leads to Gold

November 23, 2025 - Linares, Spain - When Polina Shuvalova agreed to a draw in the final round against Azerbaijan's Gulnar Mammadova, it was the first time in ten games she hadn't left the board with a full point. By then, it didn't matter. Russia had already secured the match, the championship was won, and Shuvalova had delivered one of the most dominant individual performances in modern team chess history. Nine wins. One draw. Zero losses. A 2827 performance rating that launched her into the world's top 10 on the live rating list.

At 24 years old, playing on board three for Russia (competing under the FIDE flag), Shuvalova didn't just contribute to her team's gold medal - she carried them there. In a tournament where every half-point matters and the pressure builds with each round, she was untouchable.

"Polina scored 9.5 out of 10 and broke into the top 10 live rating," team captain Sergey Rublevsky said after the final. "She was a real slaughterer."

Eleven Wins, Zero Losses

Russia entered the tournament as favorites and delivered beyond even the most optimistic predictions. Eleven matches played. Eleven matches won. Not a single tiebreak needed. They swept Pool A with a perfect record, dismantled Uzbekistan 7-1 in the quarterfinals, then faced their toughest test: China, led by former World Champion Hou Yifan. Shuvalova won both her games. Russia advanced 2.5-1.5 in each match.

In the final against Azerbaijan, the pattern continued. Shuvalova and Alexandra Goryachkina won in the first match for a 3-1 victory. In the second match, Leya Garifullina delivered the decisive point. Final aggregate: 5.5-2.5. Russia claimed their third World Team Championship title (after 2017 and 2021) without ever being seriously threatened.

The Shuvalova Show

What made Shuvalova's performance so remarkable wasn't just the 9.5/10 score - it was the consistency across different opponents and pressures. Against Kazakhstan? Victory. Against USA? Victory. Against Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals? Victory. Against China in the crucial semifinal? Two victories that effectively ended the match.

She didn't have off days. She didn't need luck. The 2827 performance rating puts her performance at elite grandmaster level, but statistics don't capture the psychological impact of having a player who simply doesn't lose. When your board three is winning game after game, it takes pressure off everyone else. Shuvalova became Russia's not-so-secret weapon. Everyone knew she was dangerous. No one could stop her.

Championship Depth

While Shuvalova grabbed headlines, Russia's victory was built on depth that other teams couldn't match. Alexandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno on the top two boards both finished with plus scores despite opponents playing defensively. On board four, 16-year-old Anna Shukhman made her tournament debut and scored 4.5 out of 5, earning the individual gold medal for board five. At sixteen. In a world championship. This is what championship teams look like: a superstar having the tournament of her life, veterans doing their jobs under pressure, and young talent stepping up when called upon.

Azerbaijan's Historic Silver

Russia's dominance was expected. Azerbaijan's silver medal was not. Reaching the World Championship final was historic for Azerbaijan, who defeated Kazakhstan in the semifinals to earn their place. On board one, Ulviyya Fataliyeva was outstanding, scoring 6/10 with a 2524 performance rating - the best board-one result of the entire tournament.

While they couldn't match Russia in the final, finishing second in the world is an achievement that will resonate in Azerbaijani chess for years. They didn't just participate - they belonged.

China's Bronze

China came to Linares with championship ambitions and left with bronze. Featuring Hou Yifan, they were expected to challenge Russia for gold. Instead, they ran into Shuvalova and couldn't find answers. To their credit, they bounced back to defeat Kazakhstan 5-3 in the bronze medal match, showing professionalism and mental toughness. Bronze isn't gold, but in a field this strong, third place is respectable.

Linares Returns

The tournament's setting in Linares was symbolic. For decades, this Spanish city hosted one of the strongest chess tournaments in the world - the "Wimbledon of Chess." Then the tournament ended, and Linares faded. Hosting the 2025 World Women's Team Championship brought elite chess back to this legendary venue, reminding the global chess community why Linares earned its reputation.

A Star is Born

For Polina Shuvalova, this tournament changed everything. She entered Linares as a strong player. She leaves as a star. At 24, she has years of elite chess ahead of her. For Russia, this third world title cements their status as the dominant force in women's team chess. The blend of experienced champions and young talent like Shukhman suggests this dominance will continue. When the chess world looks back at the 2025 World Women's Team Championship, they'll remember Russia's perfect record and Azerbaijan's breakthrough. But mostly, they'll remember Polina Shuvalova: 24 years old, playing the chess of her life, finishing with 9.5 out of 10 against world-class opposition.

That's not just a great tournament. That's history.

More to explore:

1. Harikrishna Out, India's Dream Crushed: Arjun Erigaisi Alone Against the World as Martinez Reaches Quarterfinals
2. FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2025
3. Wesley So Resigns in a Dead Draw: A Shocking Turn in Round 2