The second round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 was overshadowed by controversy after an unusual clock incident in the game between India’s Vantika Agrawal and Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva.
The dispute occurred deep into the endgame, at move 60, when both players needed fresh scoresheets. Tournament protocol requires players to keep an accurate record of moves, and when a scoresheet runs out, arbiters must provide a new one. With the clock paused while a new sheet was being handed to Agrawal, Assaubayeva restarted the clock earlier than expected.
As a result, Agrawal lost 11 seconds of her already critical time, dropping from 38 seconds to 27, while still filling out the mandatory details on the new sheet. In a position that engines evaluated as winning for Agrawal, she eventually conceded a draw.
The moment quickly made its way online after spectators shared clips of the incident. On Reddit’s r/chess forum, fans voiced frustration over what many considered unsportsmanlike behavior. “That was intentional and sneaky,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Clear cheating by Bibisara.”
Others shifted blame to tournament officials. “Chess arbiters are useless when it is essential to hold rules strictly,” one fan said, echoing a broader frustration in the chess community about inconsistent officiating. Some argued that arbiters should have anticipated the situation and brought fresh scoresheets before the clock became an issue.
Agrawal, 22, has faced difficulties with rulings before. As one Redditor noted, she has been “at the end of questionable decisions by arbiters at least two times now.” In a previous case, she withdrew from a tournament after another dispute.
Assaubayeva, 21, is no stranger to controversy herself. A two-time World Blitz Champion, she has sometimes drawn criticism for her conduct and outspoken remarks. The incident in Douglas now adds to her complicated reputation.
The rules themselves remain a gray area. According to FIDE regulations, if an arbiter is already providing a new scoresheet, the clock is normally not stopped by the players. Some users pointed out that Agrawal may have technically acted outside of procedure by pausing the clock herself. Still, critics argue that Assaubayeva’s quick restart crossed an ethical line. But it’s sure not cheating.
The discussion highlights a recurring issue in professional chess: the balance between strict rule enforcement and the spirit of fair play. While no official complaint has been announced, the debate is unlikely to die down soon.
As one Reddit commenter summed it up: “Both players feel hard done by, and it’s the arbiters who caused this situation in the first place.”
The FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 is being held from September 2 to 16 at the Silk Road EXPO in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, bringing together 56 of the world’s top female players. The 11-round Swiss-system event offers a $230,000 prize pool and, more importantly, two coveted spots in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, making every half-point critical.
The field includes leading names such as Tan Zhongyi, Anna and Mariya Muzychuk, Harika Dronavalli, and rising stars like Carissa Yip and Vantika Agrawal. Played alongside the Open Grand Swiss in the same venue, the event has quickly become one of the most significant fixtures in the women’s chess calendar, both for prestige and for its direct impact on the world championship cycle.
Watch FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 live here
https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-grand-swiss-2025/o5PNA4Yp
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