9th Blitz "Death Match" Player Announcement!
Two of the most prominent figures in the American Women's chess scene have confirmed their participation for Chess.com's 9th Blitz "Death Match", set to take place Sunday October 28th at 11:30 AM Pacific, 2:30 PM Eastern. International Master Anna Zatonskih and Women's Grandmaster Tatev Abrahamyan will compete in what has become the most popular monthly event on Chess.com, if not the entire landscape of "online chess".
Though Anna and Tatev can both boast two of the most impressive resume's of any female players, the favorite on paper heading into the match must surely be IM Zatonskih. Rated nearly 200 FIDE points higher, Anna is a multiple time US Women's Champion and led the U.S. Women's Olympic Team to a Silver Medal in 2004.
Originally from Armenia, Tatev is no stranger to success at the U.S. Women's Championship herself. She was Co-Champion in 2005, losing the playoff match against Rusudan Goletiani, tied for second in 2010 where she once again came up short in the Rapid Playoff, this time against her future "Death Match" opponent - Anna Zatonskih.
Tatev has said she's excited for a chance to avenge her previous rapid defeat in 2010, but knows she's the underdog. Anna also stated that she knows she's up against a formidable opponent in Tatev. Tatev and Anna have competed as teammates for the U.S. Women's Team for several years, but on October 28th there will be no "love lost" in what is sure to be an exciting blitz duel! Their over the board record, after fourteen meetings, shows Zatonskih with a +4 record, with multiple victories for both players.
IM's Daniel Rensch and David Pruess, along with other special guests will cover all the action live on www.Chess.com/TV - so mark your calendars! Look for a preview blog, predicting the winners at some point over the next month...
Danny Rensch is an international master and Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. After a successful scholastic chess career, Danny joined Chess.com as a co-founder in 2009. He directs the company's content, media partnerships, and professional chess events. Danny is an accomplished commentator and broadcaster, which he used to establish Chess.com's streaming and creator programs. He has channeled his lifelong passion for playing and teaching chess to advance Chess.com's mission of growing the game and helping people enjoy their lives through chess. With over 200 million registered users, Chess.com is the leading platform for playing and learning chess.
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Read “Dark Squares,” Danny’s Highly Anticipated Memoir
Danny Rensch has released his highly anticipated memoir on September 16, 2025. Described as Educated meets The Queen’s Gambit, this powerful and deeply personal book dives into his upbringing in an abusive cult and how chess ended up saving his life.
