IM Carissa Yip won the rapid segment and IM Leya Garifullina took the blitz title at the WR Women's Chess Tour - Americas 2026 in Punta Cana. Both players earned $7,000 and spots in the year-end Grand Final in Stuttgart, Germany.
The second leg of the inaugural tour concluded on July 2 after rapid and blitz knockout events held July 1-2. Yip swept all three of her rapid matches 2-0, defeating IM Carolina Lujan, Garifullina, and IM Deysi Cori in succession.
Garifullina claimed the blitz crown without a loss in the final stages. She defeated Alexandra Castillo, Yip, and IM Kateryna Lee to secure her qualification.
The tour features four continental events before the November Grand Final. The next stop is scheduled for Mozambique on August 21-22. Half of the eight-player Grand Final field has now been set after the Tokyo and Punta Cana legs.