Lagno Beats Tan in Wild Italian Game Thriller

Lagno Strikes in Wild Italian Game

Kateryna Lagno defeated Tan Zhongyi in a chaotic round three encounter at the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026. The Ukrainian grandmaster (2508) overcame the former Women's World Champion (2535) after a game that featured multiple blunders and tactical complications in the Italian Game.

The Opening Setup

The game began with 1.e4 e5 leading into the Italian Game: Classical Variation, La Bourdonnais Variation (ECO C53). Both players were familiar with this opening, but the theoretical battle quickly gave way to practical complications.

Tan introduced an opening idea that initially put pressure on Lagno's position. After an early inaccuracy by Black, White built up what appeared to be a close-to-winning position. The Chinese player seemed well on her way to controlling the game.

The Critical Turning Point

The game's decisive moment came with 22...Ne3+, a tactical sequence that allowed Lagno to generate dangerous counterplay. Despite being in a difficult position, the Ukrainian found this knight leap that completely changed the evaluation.

Lagno later dropped a piece as the players approached the time control, but Tan failed to consolidate her material advantage. A hurried 41st move proved costly for White, leaving her position vulnerable to Black's counterattack.

The Decisive Attack

Then disaster struck for Tan on move 42. After her blunder, Lagno seized the initiative with a precise attacking sequence featuring a striking knight sacrifice. The attack was underpinned by what sources describe as "a remarkable queen sacrifice" that proved absolutely decisive.

The tactical complications that followed were too much for Tan to handle in time pressure, and Lagno secured the full point with accurate calculation.

Tournament Impact

This victory moved Lagno into a share of the lead alongside Bibisara Assaubayeva, who also won her round three game. The result was particularly significant as it came against one of the tournament favorites and demonstrated Lagno's fighting spirit when facing adversity.

The game exemplified the unpredictable nature of the 2026 Women's Candidates, where tactical awareness and nerves under pressure often matter more than opening preparation. At ChessFlow, games like this wild tactical battle make for stunning wall art that captures chess at its most dramatic.