Tchachenko, the 30-year-old who has been studying the game since first playing it at school at the age of 10, is a four-time world champion and needed every bid of that experience to see off the opposition on the fourth and final day of round robin action.

But victories over Tamara Tansykkuzhina of Russia and Ala Tenghua of China proved enough for gold ahead of Russian duo Matrena Nogovitcyna and Tansykkuzhina, who took silver and bronze respectively.

The winner admitted afterwards to being "hungry, tired but extremely happy".

In the men's competition, meanwhile, Shvartsman continued his nation's strong overall reputation at the World Mind Games, to win ahead of Guntis Valneris of Latvia and Iurii Anikieiev of Ukraine.

Kim-Chae Young proved herself a rising star to reach the final of the Go competition ©SportAccord



Elsewhere, 18-year-old Kim-Chae Young of South Korea shocked Chinese veteran Rui Naiwei in the semi-finals of the Go competition, to set up a gold medal match against Chang Kai-Hsin of Taiwan.

Europe will face South Korea in the men's team final.

The World Mind Games continues tomorrow with six sets of medals on the line, including two each in bridge and chess as well as the two in Go.

Competition will then conclude in the Chinese capital on Wednesday (December 17).

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