Ukraine's Maria Muzychyk has won the 2015 Women's World Chess Championship in Russia's southern Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Ukrainian Chess Federation said Monday.
The 22-year-old Muzychyk from the Ukraine's western Lvov region beat Russian Grandmaster Natalia Pogonina in the final 2.5-1.5 on Sunday.
Following her victory, Muzychyk obtained a title of Grandmaster and got a cash prize of 60,000 U.S. dollars, while Pogonina received a prize of 30,000 dollars.
The 2015 Women's World Chess Championship was held in Sochi from March 16 to April 6, gathering 64 participants from 28 countries and regions.
World Champion and winner of the FIDE Grand Prix Hou Yifan from China, who was taking part in a separate chess tournament in the United States, did not attend the championship.
Muzychyk has to defend her title at another Women's World Chess Championship this year which is supposed to take place in October.
Source: XINHUA