Aleksandra Goryachkina: the wall of women's chess
- País
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Título
- Grandmaster (GM)
- Nacimiento
- September 28, 1998, Orsk (Russia)
- Estado
- activa
- Último ELO
- 2570 · Jun 2026
- ELO máximo
- 2611 · 2022
In contemporary women’s chess, few players inspire as much respect for their solidity as Aleksandra Goryachkina. Nicknamed “the wall” for her defensive tenacity, the Russian came within a step of the world title in 2020 and has established herself as one of the best — and hardest to beat — players on the planet.
Who is Goryachkina
She was born on September 28, 1998 in Orsk, Russia. A child prodigy, she was girls’ world youth champion and rose steadily through Russian chess, a historic powerhouse. Her competitive maturity, unusual for her age, marked her early as a future contender for the world title.
The wall
Goryachkina’s great hallmark is her extraordinary solidity. She’s an extremely difficult player to beat, capable of defending complicated positions for hours and capitalizing on the smallest opponent mistake. Her patient, resilient style earned her the nickname “the wall” of women’s chess.
That reliability paid off handsomely in 2019, when she won the Candidates Tournament by an overwhelming margin over the rest of the contenders, earning the right to play for the world title.
At the doors of the title
In 2020, Goryachkina played the Women’s World Championship against Chinese champion Ju Wenjun. It was a very close match: the classical games ended tied, and the title was decided in a rapid-game tiebreak, where Ju Wenjun prevailed by a narrow margin.
Goryachkina, therefore, came very close to the world crown. Far from discouraged, she remained among the best in the world and won the women’s world blitz title, showing that her solidity also works at fast time controls.
Her chess DNA
In our chess DNA system, Goryachkina represents the solid defender profile: extreme solidity, refined technique, and a consistency that makes her extremely hard to beat. If your GM twin is Goryachkina, your strength is solidity and defensive resistance; your virtue is the patience of someone who knows that an opponent who can’t beat you will eventually give in.
Keep exploring
- Ju Wenjun, her rival in the 2020 Women’s World Championship
- Hou Yifan, the highest-rated player in women’s chess
- Alexandra Kosteniuk, another great Russian champion
- All players
Preguntas frecuentes
How did the 2020 Women's World Championship between Goryachkina and Ju Wenjun go?
After winning the Candidates Tournament by an overwhelming margin, Aleksandra Goryachkina played the Women's World Championship against Chinese champion Ju Wenjun in 2020. It was a very close, high-level match: the classical games ended tied, and the title was decided in a rapid-game tiebreak, where Ju Wenjun prevailed by a narrow margin. Goryachkina, therefore, came very close to winning the world title, confirming herself as one of the best players on the planet.
Why is Goryachkina considered such a solid player?
Goryachkina is known for her extraordinary solidity and defensive tenacity: she's an extremely difficult player to beat, capable of defending complicated positions for hours and capitalizing on the smallest opponent mistake. Her patient, resilient style, combined with a competitive maturity unusual for her youth, earned her the nickname 'the wall' of women's chess. This reliability led her to dominate the 2019 Candidates Tournament and settle firmly among the best in the world.
What other important titles does Goryachkina hold?
Besides her runner-up finish in the classical world championship, Goryachkina was world youth champion in her youth and has been crowned women's world blitz champion, showing that her solidity also works at fast time controls. She has been a key player for the Russian team in team competitions. Her record and consistency place her among the great players of her generation and a recurring contender for the women's world title.