Women's World Championship: Game 2

Hou Yifan had the white pieces in the second game of the 2011 Women's World Chess Championship in Tirana, Albania.

The champion opted for 1. e4 and Humpy responded solidly with the Petroff Defence. The resulting symmetrical pawn structure offered few chances for an advantage, and the game was eventually drawn just after the first time control.

So after two games there is nothing to separate the players, but as the challenger Humpy Koneru may be satisfied to have started confidently, having a pleasant edge with white in the first game and easily drawing with black in the second.

Tomorrow is the first rest day, so game 3 is on Thursday 17 November, when Humpy will have the white pieces again.

No way through...the champion is held to a draw in game two

Close-up cameras capture all the tension

The total prize fund is 200,000 euros, with the main match sponsor being Taci Oil International.

The time control is 40 moves in 90 minutes, then 30 minutes to finish the game, with a 30 second increment from the start.

If the scores are level after 10 games there will be a 4-game rapid match to determine the champion. If scores are still level, there will be up to 5 pairs of blitz games before a final sudden-death game.  The full schedule can be found here.

The full FIDE match regulations are here.