Hou Yifan retained her world title on Thursday in Tirana, Albania after drawing the 8th match game with Humpy Koneru.

The reigning Women's World Champion was and is Hou Yifan | All photos © FIDE by Anna Burtasova & Anastasiya Karlovich

Game 8

Achieving an easy draw in the final game, Hou Yifan won the 2011 Women's World Championship match 5.5-2.5 and so she remains Women’s World Champion for at last a few more years.

The 17-year-old Chinese grandmaster did so most convincingly, not allowing her opponent, 24-year-old Humpy Koneru of India, a single win. In the final game Koneru was in a must-win situation, but when her opponent had neutralized the position, the Indian threw in the towel and congratulated her opponent.

And so the match, which coud have lasted 10 games, finished a bit earlier than expected. The closing ceremony is scheduled for the 30th of November so the players have a few days to explore Tirana and Albania.

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Women's World Championship 2011 | Final Score

Hou Yifan has had some mediocre results earlier this year, but today she proved to be a real champion: one who peaks at the right moment. Besides the prize of 120,000 Euro (Koneru gets 80,000), the young Chinese won 18 rating points (and saw her opponent lose those 18). This means that for the first time, Hou Yifan is now virtually the second highest rated female player behind Judit Polgar. However, as she will still play some games in the Chinese League before the years ends, this is not yet certain.

Hou Yifan: World Champion for at least a few more years