The final round, and thus the final match, of the women's world championship started today. Natalia Pogonina and Mariya Muzychuk played the first game of a best-of-four classical match (there will be rapid tiebreaks in case of a 2-2 tie), and although Pogonina had good chances at one moment the game finished in a draw. The critical point in the game lasted for only two half-moves: Pogonina stood somewhat better after 26.Bg2, aiming among other things to expand on the kingside with f4 while trying to prevent Black from safely achieving ...c5, liberating her queen's bishop. Muzychuk probably should have played 26...Bd6, fighting for the c5 square and allowing the bishop to retreat to f8, where it would help cover the kingside.
Instead, she played 26...Bc7, and now if Pogonina had played 27.Nd4! Black would have been in some trouble, e.g. 27...c5 28.Nf5 with pressure all over the board. Fortunately for Muzychuk, White played 27.Nf4, to put the knight on d3 in order to keep control over c5. She succeeded in that aim, but after 27...Nd7 28.Nd3 Bb6 29.Nc5 Bc8! 30.Nxd7 Bxd7 31.Bc5 Bxc5 32.Qxc5 Qa5! White's advantage was completely gone and the game was drawn soon thereafter.
Game 2 is tomorrow, and while Pogonina might be slightly disappointed, she can at least take comfort in the fact that she is not starting a fourth straight match with a 1-0 deficit.