GM Hou Yifan and WGM Anastasia Avramidou advanced from the Round of 16 in the 2026 Women's Speed Chess Championship after victories on Monday.
Hou Yifan defeated IM Dinara Wagner 13.5-2.5 in a dominant performance. She won the 5+1 segment 4-1, the 3+1 segment 3.5-1.5 and swept the 1+1 bullet games 6-0.
Avramidou upset IM Polina Shuvalova 7.5-6.5. Shuvalova led after the first two segments but Avramidou won the bullet portion 3-1 to secure the match.
The first quarterfinal features GM Divya Deshmukh against GM Bibisara Assaubayeva on July 16. The 2026 Women's Speed Chess Championship runs through July 31 with a $75,000 prize fund.