Ruan Lufei & Hou Yifan in World Championship final

Just like two years ago, Hou Yifan from China eliminated Humpy Koneru from India in the semi-finals of the Women's World Championship in Antakya, Turkey. She will meet her compatriot Ruan Lufei in the final, who defeated another Chinese player, Zhao Xue, in the rapid tiebreak.

General info

The 2010 Women's World Championship, organized by the Turkish Chess Federation, takes place December 2-25 in Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. The format is a knock-out competition with five rounds of matches, comprising two games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round. The 6th and final round will be played over four games and the winner will be declared Women’s World Champion. More info here.

Round 5

History repeated itself this week when number 1 and 2 seeded players Humpy Koneru and Hou Yifan met in the semi-finals. Two years ago, at the Women's World Championship in Nalchik (Russia) Hou Yifan needed the tiebreak to beat her opponent (after which she lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk in the final) but this time two classical games were enough.



In the first game Hou Yifan reached a winning position in a bishop ending that started as a Berlin Wall. The Chinese found a very nice idea that involved a bishop sacrifice and then finished the game strongly as well. Afterwards computer analysis showed that the Chinese GM had actually played her tactic one move too early, and Humpy could have drawn the game - but in that case the Indian GM would have had to find a series of only moves. In the game viewer below you'll find the analysis.

The second game started with a remarkable transposition of moves, where a Sicilian Scheveningen with 6.Bg5 was reached from a 1.d4 opening. OK, it was a must-win situation for Humpy, but this way of playing didn't seem to suit her style. Except for one move, Hou Yifan easily held everything under control.



The two classical games between Zhao Xue and Ruan Lufei were quick draws, and so the latter had to play tiebreaks for the fifth time! With the white pieces she didn't get much against Zhao Xue's Alekhine and then with Black she got out of the opening quite badly. But as her opponent missed the win and then several draws, eventually the youngest of the two (Ruan Lufei is 23; Zhao Xue is 25) won a complicated ending after 70 moves.





Sunday is the only rest day in Antakya. The final will consist of four classical games, and if needed a rapid and blitz tiebreak.

Games semi-finals

Game viewer by ChessTempo


Women's World Championship 2010 | Round 5 results

Photos © Turkish Chess Federation

Links

• Official website
• Games in PGN via TWIC