Not sure, I heard Mariya had some really good help with opening prep, and also not sure if Hou is particularly predictable - she has done a couple surprising things in the series. And just look at Candidates tournament, everyone and their mothers know everyone else's mothers openings about 26 moves in, for the most part.
But maybe Hou could find some ways to deviate earlier, not sure
Hi, I've been watching the Women's world championship and see that, alhtough Hou outranks Mariya by some distance, it seems so easy to prepare against Hou, because she seems to play the same openings as white. Any opinions?