
Jovana Srdanovic, born in 2003, developed through Belgrade’s junior chess scene. At the 2017 European Youth Championship in Mamaia, she won silver in the girls’ under-14 section, scoring seven points from nine games. She earned the Woman International Master title in 2021.
Senior competition brought meetings with experienced international opponents. Here we feature two games from club and individual events.
At the 2025 European Club Cup in Rhodes, Srdanović had White against German grandmaster Elisabeth Paehtz.
At the 2025 European Club Cup in Rhodes, Srdanovic beat German grandmaster Elisabeth Paehtz with White. The game remains complex for a long time: Black’s rook enters the second rank while White seeks central activity.
A series of exchanges leaves White’s knight, Black’s bishop and the pawns. The d-pawn then becomes Black’s main concern.
The second encounter was played at the 57th Belgrade International Women’s Grandmaster Tournament in 2026. Srdanović has White against Jovana Rapport.
At the 57th International Women’s Grandmaster Tournament in Belgrade in 2026, her opponent was Jovana Rapport. Srdanovic again faces the King’s Indian, but this time the critical phase arrives with queens still on the board.
After 36.d6, the pawn captures on e7 and White follows with queen checks. Notice how the advanced pawn and active bishop restrict Black’s king.
The d-pawn connects both wins, but its threats differ. Against Paehtz, knight support enables promotion; against Rapport, the pawn on e7 contributes to the king attack.
Watch these differences as you replay the games. A passed pawn can seek a new queen, or open opportunities for pieces already on the board.