"Those who say they understand chess, understand nothing" -- Robert HUBNER


Women's World Championship

: Created:12 Sep 2013 , by

The Women's World Championship has begun in Taizhou, China. Hou Yifan, the challenger has begun well with a win in the first game against champion, Anna Ushenina.

Yifan has a 100 point advantage in grading over Ushenina and her greater tactical awareness was crucial in the first of their ten game match. Ushenina with the White pieces achieved an advantage against Yifan's Nimzo Indian Defence but she failed to press home her plus and went wrong too many times.

Game two was much better for Ushenina as she equalised easily with the Black pieces in a Sicilian Sveshnikov Defence. A relatively early draw kept Yifan's lead but for Ushenina it was positive that she did not concede against Yifan who is dangerous with White.

In my view Hou Yifan will win by at least two points if she plays smartly. As Bobby Fischer showed back in 1972, in a championship match you need to surprise your opponent so will Yifan switch to 1.d4 or 1.c4? You heard it here first.