In the all-decisive and all-Russian clash, Valentina Gunina held Alexandra Kosteniuk to a draw and won the $40,000 first prize of the inaugural Cairns Cup in St. Louis. Irina Krush came third thanks to beating Harika Dronavalli.
“I’m so happy but I didn’t realize it yet, so I need time!” said Gunina after her last game. She seemed to be suppressing a smile when she shook hands with Kosteniuk, confirming the draw, but her victory at the first Cairns Cup simply hadn’t sunk in yet.