WWCh G8: Game drawn, Hou Yifan retains world title

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
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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.
Women's World Championship 2011 | Final Score
Players |
Rating
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
Total
|
Perf.
|
+/–
|
Hou Yifan |
2578
|
½
|
½
|
1
|
½
|
½
|
1
|
1
|
½
|
|
|
5.5
|
2736
|
+18
|
Koneru Humpy |
2600
|
½
|
½
|
0
|
½
|
½
|
0
|
0
|
½
|
|
|
2.5
|
2442
|
–18
|
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
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Comments
Ch_Fm
6 years 5 months ago
Permalink
Congratulations to truly deserving World Champion Hou Yifan!!!
If not skills, her looks definitely killed Koneru Humpy.
Bastian
6 years 4 months ago
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Was a great show by Hou Yifan, she clearly is a worthy World Champion!
stevefraser
6 years 4 months ago
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World Champion?....I didn't see any men in the draw. When asked, do the women feel these segregated events demean them, as if they are not smart enough to compete against men in a purely mental endeavor?
MJul
6 years 4 months ago
Permalink
Chess is not purely mental. And it's not about being "smart enough".
Chess require great physical resistance in wich women are, generally, inferior compared to men. While the period there's a bigger difference.
Although men and women think different (none better than the other, just different).
Chess Fan
6 years 4 months ago
Permalink
"If not skills, her looks definitely killed Koneru Humpy."
What does this mean? What has her looks got to her winning this woman championship so meritoriously.
stevefraser
6 years 4 months ago
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Once women are segregated men start to rate them by looks.....BTW, why no men in the "World Championship".
Nicholas
6 years 4 months ago
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Under 2600, who cares.
Michael Lubin
6 years 4 months ago
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Isn't someone going to post: "Humpy will win the next two games!" ;)
Ashok
6 years 4 months ago
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Humpy WILL WIN the next two games!!! :D
Michael Lubin
6 years 4 months ago
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Except, there aren't any more games.
Sam
6 years 4 months ago
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I don't see great Games in this match. But surely Koneru not in form or needs good coatching like Yifan undergone some training with karpov lastly..may be that put her solid with black.All the games she won with black.
Michel83
6 years 4 months ago
Permalink
What's a "great game"? Shirov-style pushing and gambling or opportunities achieved through heavy blunders? Yes, that's fun, entertaining, sometimes beautiful. But come on, Hou Yifan outplayed Koneru (who also had problem with timetrouble several times) in slow, stable positions without enormous blundes. That's great chess in my book.
I agree with you though she's been more stable- hope she'll go on like this in future (she has been quite unstable in the past).
It was 2 wins with black and 1 with white by the way.
stevefraser
6 years 4 months ago
Permalink
Any chance "the Champ" will play against men in any events?
redivivo
6 years 4 months ago
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Most of her events are against men, at least the last 3-4 years.
Sam
6 years 4 months ago
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May be you call these are great games just because the event is World championship..?
Bastian
6 years 4 months ago
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What do you call a "great game"? They played good games in this match, and it was interesting to watch. And I enjoyed watching these games much more than the games played in the Tal Memorial, but that is a personal point of view.
Chess Dweeb
6 years 4 months ago
Permalink
When you're two games down, you play the same opening you played to get two games down?? How suprising would it have been if Humpy opened with 1.f4 or a dragon with black... the games would have been complex, and she would have given herself a chance to get back into it. She was outplayed in slow positions..needed to win..and played more slow positions...just don't get it...
Daaim Shabazz
6 years 4 months ago
Permalink
Should have trotted out the Sicilian at least once.
rajeshv
6 years 4 months ago
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Congratulations to Hou Yifan on a well deserved title defense!! Better luck next time, Humpy!
Han
6 years 4 months ago
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The WWC is a farce without Judit. Susan ought to get out of retirement for a match, and if Hou wins, then Judit should step in.
Bastian
6 years 4 months ago
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As far as I know, she decided to not play in womens events. Would be nice to have a match between Hou and Polgar, but I don't believe that is going to happen. Wouldn't call this match a farce because Judit doesn't participate, and whether Judit is really the strongest of all female players ... in the Greek team championship she lost to women (there was at least one game), and they haven't had Hou's level of skill.
George
6 years 4 months ago
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What game she lost?
Bastian
6 years 4 months ago
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Sorry, I've made a mistake there. In fact she didn't loose! In fact I meant the draw against Zawadzka Jolanta.
Anonymous
6 years 4 months ago
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Hou is the sexiest and most beautiful chess world-champion ever
R.Mutt
6 years 4 months ago
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Sexier than Euwe?
stevefraser
6 years 4 months ago
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No way....the Russian Kostenick (?) is right now the most beautiful women in top flight chess.