GMAleksandra Goryachkina

Aleksandra Goryachkina was born in Orsk into a family of experienced chess players. Her father Yuri was also a coach. She initially preferred dancing and table tennis, but began chess at six. Watching her father's classes helped her learn. In 2011 she moved with him to Salekhard to train at the Anatoly Karpov Polar Chess School. Her youth achievements included world girls' titles at under-ten, under-fourteen and under-eighteen level. She then won consecutive World Junior Girls' Championships in 2013 and 2014.

Goryachkina became Russian women's champion in 2015, adding further titles in 2017 and 2020. She earned the grandmaster title in 2018. A commanding victory in the 2019 Women's Candidates earned her a match against Ju Wenjun. Their 2020 classical match finished level, but Ju won the rapid playoff. Goryachkina reached the inaugural Women's World Cup final in 2021. She won the competition in 2023 by defeating Nurgyul Salimova. In 2025 she became Women's World Rapid Champion after a playoff against Zhu Jiner. She also qualified for another Candidates tournament through the 2024-25 Women's Grand Prix.