I'm a big fan of Nigel Short, but as far as I'm concerned Hou Yifan won Gibraltar.

Blitz Playoff is the most ridiculous thing ever conceived to decide Classical Chess contests. What a Shame!!!

I wasn't aware of this play off ... double deception ! congrats to our little indian for all the scalpts :)

If more than 4 people were tied for first, then performance would have been used to select 4 people for the playoffs. As it turned out only two tied for first and Hou Yifan actually had the better performance http://chess-results.com/tnr63931.aspx?art=1&rd=10&lan=1 Its a pity she lost the playoffs. Nevertheless she can walk way very proud from this event. Mickey Adams commenting live during the playoffs mentioned that Hou Yifan is way stronger than what her rating suggest. She is already set to gain about 35 odd points from this event. Few more such events she will be 2700+. She was last invited to Corus B in 2008 and since she has gotten much stronger since then she deserves another invitation next year.

Congrat's to Short and Yifan. I'm happy with shared first..

Even though she didn't win the playoff, her performance in Gibraltar was just outstanding. Congratulations to both Hou Yifan and Nigel Short!

Sad to see her lose like this. Qh3 in her last game was bad, but I guess she just needs more experience with games like this. She did well though and it would be really amazing to see her playing with the men some day! :D

She did have a win in the first game. After Short's fxe5 (thinking he is attacking two pieces and hence will regain his piece) was a blunder since Hou can play Bb4 attacking queen and then save her other piece. Essentially she would have piece up for two pawns.

I really like this tournament. It was a fantastic fight tournament until the last round¡¡¡ And the final playoff it was another system, maybe it was more spectacular¡¡

I'm big fan of Yifan Hou. She did a great job. Since 2003, I have track her games. Her progress was always faster than what I expected. Congratulation Hou! Congratulation Short!

Sasi played the spoiler for Hou this tournament, first by beating her in round 5. And then losing to Short in the last round to deny her a clear first.

Is this Yifan Hou performance the highest for a woman ever in classical chess?

if you beat 9 times 2300 ELO players in row, I think you might have 2900 performance.

Congratulation both Nigel & Hou Yifan. Bu for me Hou Yifan has won his tournament. Furthermore, she has broken Judit Polgar supremacy and she will become world nº1.Go on figthinhg! And thanks for this tournament. The chess histor will remmber this date!

Congratulation both Nigel & Hou Yifan. Bu for me Hou Yifan has won his tournament. Furthermore, she has broken Judit Polgar supremacy and she will become world nº1.Go on figthinhg! And thanks for this tournament. The chess histor will remmber this date!

Hou Yifan makes steady progress and with such performances she looks set to be up there in the top ten within a couple of years.

Short beat Hou ?.. great !, could we expect anything else from the Englishman?... I can imagine the inspiration Short would have had. Maybe he gets the knighthood now ?? :)

gRACIAS.. GIBRALTAR2012 EL TORNEO DE LAS EMOCIONES . Creo que no existe duda del tremendo acontecimiento ajedrecistico que ha significado GIBRALTAR 2012 ., no solo por el plantel reunido donde se han conjugado ajedrecistas de hayer y de hoy . La tremenda actuacion de HOU YIFANG 9 ( campeona del mundo femenina ) le dio desde el comienzo un colorido especial al torneo junto con la llegada de JUDITH POLGAR LO cual auguraba el enfrentamiento entre ambas lo cual ocurrio con la sensacional victoria de HOU YIFAN . mEncion a parte para NIGEL SHORT OTRORA NINO PRODIGIO Y UN VERDADERO OLD MAN Que al final gano el torneo sensacionalmente derrotando a hou yifan, felicitaciones para este distinguido caballero y excelente ajedrecista . alberto hernandez jorge.

Quite funny to see Hou happier than Short after the playoff. 8000 pounds was on the stake after all.

Some days the monkeys will leave Gibraltar.

I had noted down here during the London Classic that she should get an invitation for that tournament instead of, say, David Howell. It would really create a big media attention since (i) she is Chinese, which brings a huge popularity to the tournament already, and (ii) she would get a chance to play against Anand, as a unique occasion of Men's world champion vs. Women's world champion, which could make it the headlines of the news around (especially if Hou won). I wish Malcolm Peim gave a chance to think about this.

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sorry for shouting, but WOW!!! her progress is comparable only to that of judit
huge congrats! (as well as to short, but everyone knows what he is capable of with his king's gambits and 1. b3 :))

Chinagirl rules the waves!

Splendid media coverage.
Well done to GM Simon Williams for his commentary. Good humoured, clear and helpful. Hope to see him commenting at more of these big events.

Nice performance by Short, finishing with 2 wins with the black pieces. Hou has 6 white games and only 4 black, but still an outstanding result (give me 10 times white and I won't even come near 8.5 points)

The Najdorf B97 game was crazy. Why did black resign abruptly and not chance the ending? I don't think the ending would be super easy to convert.

Hahaha, is Nigel fa*ting on that first picture? Thats what happens when someone pulls your finger. Hahahaha, Nigel, still a child. At least he has chess to rely on. Professional chess player, no thanks!! Love the game though!