Yifan Defeats Koneru in Semi-Finals

Submitted by SonofPearl on Fri, 09/12/2008 at 12:41pm.

So the Women's World Chess Championship Final will be between 24 year-old Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia and 14 year-old Hou Yifan of China (pictured).

Hou Yifan earned her place in the final the hard way by beating favourite Humpy Koneru of India in a blitz tie-break playoff.

Yifan won the first rapid game only to be pagged back by Koneru in the second. Yifan again took the lead by winning the first blitz game and this time Koneru failed to stage another comeback and was finally eliminated.

So it's Russia versus China in a 4-game final for the World Chess Championship. In the red corner it's GM Alexandra Kosteniuk - a former Women's World Championship finalist from 7 years ago, she's now practically a veteran compared to her opponent. In the errr...other red corner , a full 10 years younger, is Hou Yifan who has also qualified as a GM and is a remarkable chess phenomenon.

Saturday is a rest day, so the final starts on 14 Sept (Sunday) and finishes on 17 Sept (Wednesday). If the scores are level there will be tiebreaks on the 18 Sept to determine the winner.

So what story will be written? Is it to be the tale of Kosteniuk returning after many years to go one better and finally win the title she covets? Or is to be Hou Yifan, a world champion at just 14 years of age?

We can only watch and wait...

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1 vote:

Comments:

by GSP-RuSh - 2 months ago
Québec Canada

Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 48

Yes but not just that she can still break the reccord. The youngest female ever was 21 she still has like 5 and half year and that more then inuff since shes 3rd and judit does compete for the title ( the no 1)

by rfs - 14 months ago
mandaluyong city Philippines

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 63

Hou Yifan is a phenomenal.just !4 yrs old to become a world champion.A record which hard to break if she win the world title.Her style of playing is simply elegant. This is a remarkable comeback by Alexandra Kosteniuk in world championship series.Her aggressive attacking skill shows her determination to win her every game and the title. This is going to be an exciting world championship match. Destiny versus Desire!

by SonofPearl - 14 months ago
Wales

Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 6066

PhilipN - The rapid games are played at a time control of 25 minutes plus 10 seconds bonus per move. The blitz games are 5 minutes plus 10 seconds bonus per move.

The regular games in the tournament are at the longer (but still relatively fast!) time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest, with a 30 second increment applying from the start of the game.

Disciple - thank you!!!

paquitodiaz - I'm afraid Alexandra is already married to Diego Garces and they have a baby daughter! Diego is a pretty good player (around 2100 Elo) but seems to spend most of his time running Alexandra's personal website.

by paquitodiaz - 14 months ago
London England

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 377

who can give me Ms. Kosteniuk Cell number??

by CowboyNoel - 14 months ago
Katy, TX United States

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 66

If you think Hou Yifan doesn't look her age check out Humpy Koneru she looks about 30 but is only 21. Me I'm a Kosteniuk fan, she has a number of great websites including http://www.chesskillertips.com. But either way it's going to be great match.

by Disciple - 14 months ago
Portugal

Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 3

"In the errr...other red corner " !!!! Loool What a loud laugh!

I thank you SonofPearl for both your wit and I'm sure we´re All thankful (more than once) for all your wonderful cover on such similar events!

It is with the help and collaboration of such a valid member like you (and they seem to abound in this site) that Chess.com stands up tall (way too tall) from the rest of the crowd!

Keep up with the fine work

by yunfeiyang - 14 months ago
jinan city China

Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 9

Houyifan will be recorded as the youngest world champion. GOOD LUCKY YIFAN.

by shuttlechess92 - 14 months ago
California United States

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1861

down with the pirc!

by PhilipN - 14 months ago
Oregon United States

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 809

I understand that they played a pair of "rapid" games and then a pair of "blitz" games for a tiebreak, but does anyone here know what time controls they played at for those games?

by BirdBrain - 14 months ago
KY United States

Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 1806

You are right! I love her aggressive play. This is the kind of play I long for in watching a match - even Shirov bores me compared to her style!

by Greco - 14 months ago
Buenos Aires Argentina

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 90

If you've seen her games you'd be impresed, she only lost one of her games against Humpy because of a blunder, and still was winning almost till the end.

We have to understand that her opponent is a lot more experienced then her and still, she went right through her pieces and managed to win three of four matches.

Yifan Fischer aint got nothing on you. :D

by Greco - 14 months ago
Buenos Aires Argentina

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 90

Hou Yifan is a flaming monster of the board.

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