# The Last 24 Hours in Chess: A Young Star Fights Back

> In the last 24 hours, the Women's Speed Chess Championship gave us a thriller. Teenage star Alice Lee fell behind former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, then stayed calm and won in the tiebreaks. Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno also won big. Here is the story, told in simple words.

_By PrimeChess Team, Chess for Everyone · Jul 9, 2026_

# The Last 24 Hours in Chess: A Young Star Fights Back

Chess can be slow and quiet. But not in the last day. One of the world's biggest online events just gave us a real thriller. A young player was losing. She did not panic. She fought back and won.

Her name is Alice Lee. She is from the United States. And her comeback is a lovely story for anyone who has ever felt like giving up too soon.

## A fast and fun kind of chess

Right now, some of the best women players in the world are playing the **2026 Women's Speed Chess Championship**. It runs from July 6 to July 31, all online. The total prize money is **$75,000**.

"Speed chess" means the games are fast. Players get only a few minutes each. There is no time to think for long. One small mistake can end everything. It is exciting to watch, even if you are new to chess.

Sixteen players started. They play one against one. If you lose, you go home. If you win, you move on.

## Alice Lee's big fight

On Wednesday, Alice Lee played Alexandra Kosteniuk. Kosteniuk is a former women's world champion. She is very strong and very experienced.

At first, things went badly for Lee. She fell two points behind. But she stayed calm. Slowly, game by game, she came back. The match ended level. Then came the tiebreak games — sudden death, winner takes all.

In the tiebreak, Lee was the better player. She won cleanly and moved on. It was close, but her name is in the next round.

After the match, Lee said something simple and honest. The first games were bad, she admitted. But then she drew one game, and, in her words, she "got a bit untilted." In other words: she calmed down, and it changed everything.

Lee is only an International Master, one level below Grandmaster. She is the only player of her level still in the event. Earlier this year, she also became the first woman to reach a 3000 bullet rating on Chess.com. She is one to watch for years to come.

## An easy win, too

The other match of the day was not close at all. Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno beat Karina Ambartsumova by a huge score: **10.5 to 3.5**. Lagno started with seven wins in a row. It was almost over before it began.

Here are the two results from the day:

| Match | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lagno vs. Ambartsumova | Kateryna Lagno | 10.5–3.5 |
| Kosteniuk vs. Lee | Alice Lee | won in tiebreaks |

## What comes next

The event is not over. On Friday, July 10, two more matches are set. Divya Deshmukh will play Rose Atwell. Then Bibisara Assaubayeva will play Afruza Khamdamova.

And there is a big treat waiting for Alice Lee. In the next round, she will face **Ju Wenjun**, the reigning Women's World Champion. It will be very hard. But after her comeback, who would bet against her?

That is the beauty of chess. You can be behind, tired, and almost beaten. And still, with a calm mind, you can turn it all around. Alice Lee just showed us how.