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Hou Yifan Regains Title

Hou Yifan Regains Title

MikeKlein
| 32 | Chess Event Coverage

Needing only seven of the alotted 10 games, Chinese GM Hou Yifan convincingly won the 2013 Women's World Championship in Taizhou, China, by beating title-holder GM Anna Ushenina of Ukraine. Hou Yifan first won the title in 2010, then lost it last year by losing in the second round of the knockout-style event (which Ushenina won).

The title is contested annually but alternates between a large, elimination event, and a one-on-one match, as it was this year. Hou Yifan qualified as the challenger by winning the last Women's Grand Prix cycle.

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Having dominated as Black throughout the match, Hou Yifan won for the first time as White to achieve the clinching score of 5.5-1.5. In a the first Najdorf of the series, Hou Yifan's king proved inviolate the whole game, while Ushenina's monarch was completely depleted of pawns. Facing invasions on the back rank, h-file, and White's well-poised knight, Ushenina conceded the game and the title.

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Hou Yifan also gained 10 rating points in the match, while Ushenina lost 10. The winner's purse is 120,000 Euros, while Ushenina takes 80,000 Euros in the loss.
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GM Anna Ushenina, who was unable to win any games in the match

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The two players discuss their final game with FIDE Press Officer Anastasiya Karlovich
All photos courtesy Anastasiya Karlovich.
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