Reports | November 21, 2011 19:44

WWCh G6: Another win for Hou Yifan

WWCh G6: Another win for Hou Yifan

Hou Yifan took a 2-point lead on Monday in the Women's World Championship Match. In the 6th match game she defeated her opponent Humpy Koneru for the second time, with the black pieces, despite having spent a few hours in the hospital the night before.

Hou Yifan wins again in game 6 | All photos © FIDE by Anna Burtasova & Anastasiya Karlovich

Event Women's World Championship | PGN via TWIC
Dates November 13th-30th, 2011
Location Tirana, Albania
System 10-game match, tie-break if necessary
Players Reigning World Champion Hou Yifan (China) and Challenger Humpy Koneru (India)
Rate of play 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one

The reigning World Champion won the sixth game of the match and is now two points ahead of the Challenger, Humpy Koneru. Although the Indian got an edge from the opening, the Chinese managed to equalize and turn the tables in timetrouble to come out as the winner.

It was a surprising turn of events, since Hou Yifan spent several hours in the hospital the previous night. The 17-year-old experienced severe pains in her stomach area and was immediately taken to the best hospital in Tirana by the organizers and FIDE officials. The doctors checked her medical condition, but the necessary tests proved that there was no serious problem, besides psychological pressure.

Hou Yifan feeling fine the next day, and scoring her second win

Hou Yifan declined to take any pain killers. After this “preparation” for the game, the next day she nevertheless sat at the board in a perfect fighting condition and managed to not only neutralize her opponent's preparation, but take the upper hand as well.

In the next four games Koneru needs to win twice to secure a tiebreak. On Tuesday, November 22nd the players have a rest day. The 7th game of the match will be played on Wednesday.

Humpy Koneru, on the verge of defeat in Albania?

Game 6

PGN string

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Peter Doggers's picture
Author: Peter Doggers

Founder and editor-in-chief of ChessVibes.com, Peter is responsible for most of the chess news and tournament reports. Often visiting top events, he also provides photos and videos for the site. He's a 1.e4 player himself, likes Thai food and the Stones.

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Comments

Am_b_2's picture

Am_b_2

1 year 6 months ago

Humpy is done.

bhabatosh's picture

bhabatosh

1 year 6 months ago

Humpy can not survive against her. As always Hou wins games one after another.
Don't know when she won last against her. It is now completely one sided affair....

Abhi's picture

Abhi

1 year 6 months ago

Humpy's time trouble blunders continues...

Bartleby's picture

Bartleby

1 year 6 months ago

Energetic play and a fine combination ignoring the threat to her rook and sacrificing the knight instead.

Am_b_2's picture

Am_b_2

1 year 6 months ago

I just checked the stats. So far, head-to-head Koneru Humpy has won 1 game against Hou Yifan in her career and lost 7 including games in this title match.
So things definitely are not looking pretty for the rest of this match for Humpy.

Chess Fan's picture

Chess Fan

1 year 6 months ago

What is Anand's life-time record in classical games against Aronian and Magnus. Can you check and tell me please if possible?

Johnny's picture

Johnny

1 year 6 months ago

Yifan is awesome and does magical things in chess. I wish for her continued success and i would love to see her fight in the WCC Candidates cycle someday eventually.

UB40's picture

UB40

1 year 6 months ago

with her looks she def can

Septimus's picture

Septimus

1 year 6 months ago

Yifan has Humpy's number. I don't think Humpy has the mental toughness to break through this barrier. It is game over now. Goes to show how meaningless her 2600+ rating was.

Aspat's picture

Aspat

1 year 6 months ago

You are right.Humpy doesn't have the ability to beat Hou in match.

Thomas Richter's picture

Thomas Richter

1 year 6 months ago

Is a rating (cumulative result of games against many different opponents) meaningless because you have bad results against one particular opponent?

Are Kramnik's and Topalov's ratings meaningless because they lost some WCh matches?

Septimus's picture

Septimus

1 year 6 months ago

You are taking my statement out of context.

Recent losses (2006 onwards):
Dzagnidze (2550)
Yifan (2575)
Kovalevskaya (2427)
Zhao Xue (2462)
Hort (2473)
Adams (2700+)
Munguntuul (2428)

There are many more,just search on chessgames.com.

Thomas Richter's picture

Thomas Richter

1 year 6 months ago

I assumed that the context of your post was the WCh match, after all the topic of this thread. Anyway, given that Koneru's rating fluctuates between 2590 and 2620 for four years already, it can't be all meaningless or wrong??

Regarding losses against players who are somewhat lower-rated: whatever your level is, does it never happen to you? The only flaw might be that she hardly plays 2600+ opposition, even though she did rather OK at these few occasions: Corus B in 2008, Gibraltar in 2010.

PP (NL)'s picture

PP (NL)

1 year 6 months ago

That match is over...

leigh's picture

leigh

1 year 6 months ago

Please don't blame Koneru, she did a great job. she just tried to win, if she wants a simpl draw, it 's easy

Baden's picture

Baden

1 year 6 months ago

It was actually a brilliant game by Yifan and tremendously executed.

Septimus, there are many open tournaments that Koneru played well in, therefore very deserved of the 2600 rating. I just believe that Yifan is playing at a higher level.

Chess Fan's picture

Chess Fan

1 year 6 months ago

You Hifan is playing like a World Champion that she is. Humpy is playing like a solid World #2, and would probably beat any other female player in the world, even convincingly (again I am not counting the incomparable Judit Polgar).
I feel sorry for Humpy, but so far, she is getting beat by a better player.
I wish Humpy the very best in the next 4 rounds and beyond if it exists (would be a miracle comeback) as she needs it.

Jhoravi's picture

Jhoravi

1 year 6 months ago

Hou Yifan has been playing in the Mens league while Humpy played mostly against Women. What else can we expect for the result?

Saji's picture

Saji

1 year 6 months ago

Humpy has to participate in Men's legue. Her time mangement has to improve. She should hire a top GM as seconds for full time. GM Sandipan Chanda is a good choice to her. She is young so age is in her side. About this match, there is no harm in trying to get what she want even in equal position because she has to take her chance. She behind in points. Doesn't matter.

Daaim Shabazz's picture

Daaim Shabazz

1 year 6 months ago

Needs better time management. Humpy has had chances in a few games and allowed them to slip. However, Hou Yifan seems mentally tougher while Humpy is missing that element to become World Champion. Look for a Sicilian in game seven. She needs to try to steal a win with black.

Septimus's picture

Septimus

1 year 6 months ago

Yifan is a pretty good Sicilian player herself. I don't think she will be easily surprised.

rajgopal's picture

rajgopal

1 year 6 months ago

humpy , play something unusual - you will win !!!

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