Hou Yifan has won the Women's World Chess Championship 2010 by defeating Ruan Lufei in a four-game tie-breaker. The earlier set of four standard games were a draw with each winning a game and drawing the other two. We knew Hou Yifan would be able to do it. Congratulations to Hou Yifan for winning the title. Hou Yifan had also made it to the final in 2008 were she had lost to the eventual Women's World Chess Champion 2008 Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk. Congratulations also to all the talented players who made this championship such a popular event.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 final - 4-game Match drawn, Hou, Lufei in playoff on Friday
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Hou Yifan - finalist in 2008 - was leading in the four-match final at the Women's World Chess Championship 2010 after three games. That is when Ruan Lufei won the fourth game after errors from both sides. Now the final match goes into tie-break that is to be played on Saturday. Interestingly Ruan Lufei has played a tie-break in every single round of this Championship.
Here is the fourth game from the match. You can run the moves through our pgnplayer or watch in flash below. Enjoy.
Women's World Chess Champion 2010 final - Hou-Lufei draw third game, Hou leads 2.0-1.0
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hou Yifan - leads 2.0-1.0 in final.
Hello Everyone,
Playing the third game of the four-game final today, Hou was held to a draw by her - also Chinese - opponent Ruan Lufei. Hou won the second game with Black yesterday though the first game of the final had been a draw on Monday. Hou held her game in an opposite-colour bishop ending though a pawn down.
Hou now leads 2.0 to 1.0 in the final. Ruan Lufe would be in a must-win situation with White tomorrow if she intends to force this final to a tie-break. All Hou has to do is hold a draw and win the title.
Incidentally, Lufei has played a tie-break in every single round of this Women's World Chess Championship. You can check the official website here.
Meanwhile, here is the third game of the final that you can check in our flashplayer below or watch through our pgnplayer. Enjoy.
One day I hope to be World Chess Champion - Dronavalli Harika
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Find more photos of the talented Indian player Dronavalli Harika at www.chesspics.com.
Hello Everyone,
Several interviews were conducted on the sidelines of the ongoing Women's World Chess Championship 2010 in Hatay, Turkey. Here is one with Dronavalli Harika of India who nearly made it to the semifinals.
“It would have been great to have 2 Indian and 2 Chinese players in semifinals.”
Anastasia Karlovich- What did you expect from the World Championship?
Dronavalli Harika- To tell you the truth I didn’t expect anything because before the championship I had a very busy schedule. I had to play Olympiad then Asian games for India on the top board. For three months I was not at home, either I was playing in the tournaments or had training camps. So I didn’t have much time to work specially for the World Championship. I came here without any preparation, so I was just working 3-4 hours before the game and used to come and play. I was lucky not to play with the strongest opponents. It could be Alina Danielian but not Tatyana Shadrina, Pia Cramling instead of Maria Muzychuk or Aleksandra Kosteniuk instead of Ruan Lufei.
A.K- Did you have somebody who was helping you during the tournament?
D.H- I didn't expect anything from this tournament, so there was no point to bring any second. But till the second round I had a friend with me – Meenakshi Subbaraman. She helped me a lot - I didn't need to do any work. For example she was cooking for me here. We had a rice cooker because I don’t eat meat at all.
A.K- Was it difficult to play with your compatriot in the first round?
D.H- Yes it’s more difficult than to play with somebody unknown. Also she has 2230 elo now but two years ago she had almost 2400, so she is quiet strong. In the first game I felt tired and made a draw but decided to brace myself and won the second game.
A.K- How was the second match? It seemed you had won it quite easily?
D.H- Yes I won both games. During the rest day after the first match I was preparing a new line for 7 hours. It happened in the game so it was easy for me to play and I won. The second game went good too. I was playing with white pieces for a draw. In one moment she played badly and lost again.
A.K- The third match was really nervous and was decided in Armageddon…
D.H- I was almost winning the classic game with white against Maria Muzychuk but I missed the victory. In the knockout tournaments one game decides a lot. So it’s a pity I missed a good chance in the first game. I was playing black the second one and made a draw. I won the first rapid game and it usually means better chances for me to win the match. Consequently I was very disappointed with myself because I gave the chance to equalize the score in the second game. I also lost the first blitz game, so before the second blitz game I was thinking “I can not do like this, it’s my last chance now. I should do my best here.” So I tried really hard. I had an experience in Armageddon before and decided to choose black pieces. So I’ve got the worse position because of one stupid move in the opening. I was not paying much attention to the time, I was just playing the position. Suddenly I saw there were only 2 seconds on her clock. Then I just played quickly…
A.K- I`ve noticed that before the second blitz game and Armageddon you didn`t leave your board as usually other players do. You were sitting in the same pose and looked very concentrated. What were you thinking about during that time?
D.H- I was trying to motivate myself, thinking that it’s my last chance to win and I have to do it, I should try my best. It worked out with Muzychuk but not with Ruan Lufei.
A.K- What happened with Chinese player?
D.H- In the fourth round I felt a bit tired after the tie-break. I decided to play something unknown for her, something she wasn’t expecting from me and I’ve got very comfortable position. I was clearly winning. If I have 2500 rating I should win such positions! If I would have won that game I’m sure I would be in semi-finals. It would have been great to have 2 Indian and 2 Chinese players in the semifinals. It’s a pity I didn’t finish that match in a classical time because it seems Ruan Lufei plays very strong in tie-breaks. She won all of them.
A.K- Are you satisfied with your general result here?
D.H- Yes I’m satisfied but also I’m a little bit upset. After coming so far, playing those tie-breaks it could have been a little bit better. Anyway I have many years to play and hope one day I'll win the World Championship. I also want to become a GM and already have 2 norms.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 final - Hou beats Lufei with Black, leads 1.5-0.5
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Have you checked www.chesspics.com for great photos of Hou Yifan?
Hello Everyone,
This is a tale of a knight-bishop manoeuvring and a frozen Rook that ended in Hou Yifan winning the second game of the final at the Women's World Chess Championship 2010 being held in Hatay, Turkey.
Lufei had drawn yesterday's first game in a highly complicated manner but could not repeat the feat today. Yifan now leads 1.5-0.5 in the four-game final.
Here is the interesting game that you can check out in our flashplayer below or run the moves through our pgnplayer.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 - Lufei holds Yifan to tough draw
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
The mayor of the Municipality of Antakya, Lutfu Savas makes the first move of the final.
Hello Everyone, The talented Hou Yifan - finalist also in the last edition of the Women's World Championship in 2008 where she lost to Chess Queen Alexansra Kosteniuk - was unable to convert an edge against the other Chinese finalist Ruan Lufe here on Monday and had to settle for a draw. They played the first of the four standard time-control matches to be played in the final of the Women's World Championship 2010. The Championship is being held in Hatay, Turkey. You can keep track of a live feed at the official website here.
Here is the interesting game which you can watch in flash below or run the moves through our pgnplayer.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 finalist Hou Yifan says she will take the final like any other round!
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Older and brighter - Hou Yifan of China. Find great photos of the talented grandmaster at www.chesspics.com.
Hi Everybody,
Here is an interesting interview from the official tournament website with Hou Yifan who has made it to the Women's World Chess Championship 2010. She takes on Ruan Lufei - fellow Chinese - to fight for the title this year. Yifan had also made it to the 2008 final but had lost to Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk then.
Anastasiya Karlovich- Can you please tell about the match with Humpy Koneru? Hou Yifan- In the first game we entered the ending which was almost equal. Later Koneru played not very good and in the bishop ending I won a pawn and the position became almost won. In the second game we came to the Sicilian defense. I sacrificed two pawns, maybe there was some compensation, but I am not sure if it was enough or not. I had a pair of bishops, so maybe it was a compensation for me. There was also danger for her king…
A.K- What was your goal before the championship? Did you think only about first place before the tournament? H.Y- No,no…I just wanted to try my best and play good every game.Nobody put any goal.
A.K- Who is helping you here? Do you have a coach? H.Y- Our team has some coaches so they help all of us and me, too. This time we have coaches that help all of my team. I have no personal coach during this event.
A.K- What is your mood before the final? H.Y- I have just normal mood, I will play the final as any other round.
A.K- I can see your mother in the playing hall… She always takes photos of you. Does she work for any newspaper or publish those pictures anywhere? H.Y- No (smiles), my mother takes pictures for the home archive only.
A.K- What is your next tournament after the World Championship? H.Y- Maybe Gibraltar. I think so, but not for sure. Maybe I will go there.
A.K- There are 2 Chinese players in the final and also your compatriots played very good during the event. How can you explain such a great result? Did you have any special preparation? H.Y- We are all happy about this result, my team mates and me too. Before the Champioship we had the Asian Games and another tournaments. And there was some special training for our team before those events. But for the World Chapionship we were preparing ourselves and there was no much time to prepare exactly for it.
A.K- How much do you train every day? H.Y- 4-5 hours per day, except for the weekends when I train less.
A.K- Is there any attention from the Chinese government? What do they think about your results? H.Y- Our Leader is following our games and results, and the government is happy with our success.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 - Ruan Lufei beats Xue Zhao to qualify for final against Hou Yifan
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
The tie-breaks begin between Ruan Lufei and Xue Zhao.
Hello Everyone,
The tie-breaks for the fifth round to find out the second finalist from among Ruan Lufei and Xue Zhao took place today. Both drew their first tie-break game and Xue was winning in the second when she lost the thread. Ruan was up to the chance and held on to her edge to win the second tie-break game. There were several nervous moments for both players in the game though. Congratulations to Xue for making it thus far and to Ruan for moving on to the finals.
Ruan now faces Hou Yifan for the finals of the Women's World Chess Championship 2010. You can follow the action live at the official website here.
Here are the tie-break games that you can run in the pgnplayer or watch in flash below. Enjoy.
It was not to be - both men and women's world chess champion from India. Koneru Humpy went down fighting to the Chinese Hou Yifan in Round 5b of the Women's World Chess Championship 2010 being held in Hatay, Turkey. Yifan knocked out Humpy with a 1.5-0.5 score despite a super fight by the Indian young lady. When talent meets talent there is very little to choose but sometimes things just work for one player and they don't for the other. Congratulations to Koneru Humpy for a great tournament and congratulations to Hou Yifan for going further.
Yifan meets the winner of the Xue Zhao - Ruan Lufei tie-breaks to be held tomorrow. You can access the official website here.
Meanwhile, here are the round 5b games which you can run through our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 - Hou beats Humpy in critical endgame of R5a
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The Women's World Chess Championship being played in Hatay, Turkey, is now down to four players. The first matches of the penultimate Round - Round 5 - took place with one ending in draw while the other having Hou Yifan beat top-rated Koneru Humpy in a critical endgame.
Ruan, Lufei CHN WGM 2480 drew her game with White against Zhao, Xue CHN GM 2474. In the other section, Hou, Yifan CHN GM 2591 beat Koneru, Humpy IND GM 2600. You can access all the live coverage at the official tournament website here.
Meanwhile, here are the two games of the semi-final. Run the moves in our pgnplayer or watch the games in flash below.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 - Humpy, Hou, Xue and Lufei in last four
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
What are the odds of this coincidence - Three Chinese and one Indian are in the semifinals of the Women's World Chess Championship 2010 being held in Hatay, Turkey!
In the second match of the fourth round, Humpy held Ju Wenjun to a draw and progressed to the semifinal as she had won the first match. Zhao Xue took advantage of a blunder and knocked out Almira Skripchenko though they had a draw in the first match. Hou Yifan qualified by knocking out Kateryna Lahno with a win and a draw. Harika Dronavalli and Ruan Lufei had two draws so they fought it out in a tie-break on Tuesday. Lufei won the first game and was winning the second but ended up drawing it in the tie-break games. Our report on the Round 4a matches is here.
IM Skripchenko, Almira FRA 2460GM Zhao, Xue CHN 24740-1
WGM Ju, Wenjun CHN 2524GM Koneru, Humpy IND 2600½-½
WGM Ruan, Lufei CHN 2480IM Harika, Dronavalli IND 2525½-½
Here are some of the interesting games from Round 4b and the tie-breaks. Enjoy. You can access the official website of the tournament here. For these games, run the moves through our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 - R4-Humpy, Hou win first matches
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Ju Wenjun and Koneru Humpy before their Round 4a match.
Hello Everybody,
Some great chess was played in the first of the Round 4 matches at the Women's World Chess Championship 2010 currently on in Hatay, Turkey. Hou Yifan and Koneru Humpy won their games against Kateryna Lahno and Ju Wenjun. Meanwhile, Dronavalli Harika-Lufei Ruan and Almira Skripchenko-Xue Zhao games were drawn. The Championship is down to the last eight and four of these talented players will advance to the semi-finals (Round 5) on their way to the title.
You can access a cool live video feed at the official website here. Meanwhile, here are the games of the fourth round. Run the moves through our pgnplayer or watch in flash below. Enjoy.
Women's World Chess Championship 2010 - Round 4 begins today
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The quarter finals of the Women's World Chess Championship in Hatay, Turkey will see four Chinese players, two Indians, one Ukrainian and one French chess champion test their mettle.
The pairings are as follows. Games start at 1300 hours CET and can be watched live at the official website here. Don't miss it. We expect some of the most closely-fought chess matches ever to be played today.
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Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
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