tag: Women's World Championship 2016 - Page 1

Interview with Hou Yifan

4/2/2016 – In March Hou Yifan, number one on the women's ranking list, regained the world title, which she had lost when she did not take part in the knock-out World Championship the year before. In an interview with Dagobert Kohlmeyer the World Champion criticises the mode of the Women's World Championship and reveals that her proposals for a different system were made in vain.

Women's WCh. G9: Hou Yifan wins and is champion

3/15/2016 – It was certainly a curious match in terms of openings choices, with neither player opting for their pet Sicilians... until today. In a do or die situation, Mariya Muzychuk knew that a symmetrical opening held little hope, and chose the Classical Sicilian. After a lengthy a fascinating battle on both wings, Hou Yifan emerged victorious and is the new World Champion. Full report with analysis.

Women's WCh. G8: Hou Yifan half point from title

3/13/2016 – After battles with both players booked to the teeth, game eight steered away from hypertheoretical debates with an offbeat Catalan. The position culminated in a blocked center with a space advantage for White, and chances for a kingside buildup, but an inaccuracy allowed Black to gain a valuable tempo, and after the queens left the board, so had the fight. Illustrated report.

Women's WCh. G7: Long fight, but no winner

3/11/2016 – Possibly the most apt description of the seventh game was a mutual war of attrition. For the third time an Open Spanish was the battlefield of choice, and the preparation of both players was suitably deep. A very long fight ensued in which chances appeared for both sides, but nothing decisive, and after 81 moves they called it a day. Report with analysis by GM Mikhalchishin.

Women's WCh. G6: Hou has two-point lead

3/9/2016 – The game started with Muzychuk on the white side of a Giuoco Piano, in which she seemed to have the clear upperhand, and her fans rubbed their hands in the hopes of an equalizing result. Things got complicated and then downright ugly as her knight found itself stranded on the rim, and Hou Yifan flipped the tables for a big win. Report with GM annotations.

Women's WCh. G5: Another quick draw

3/8/2016 – On Monday Mariya Muzychuk and Hou Yifan had a rest day which they probably mostly spent preparing for the remainder of the match. But in game five on Tuesday neither Hou Yifan who was playing with White nor Mariya Muyzchuk who defended with Black came up with anything exciting and the game quickly petered out to a draw. After five of ten games Hou Yifan now leads by 3-2.

Women's WCh. G4: Short but sweet

3/7/2016 – Game four saw a repeat of the Open Spanish in game two with a slight difference. This time both players came armed to the teeth, in both preparation and disposition, and if the game ended in a draw in just 21 moves, there was nothing dull about it. Very sharp tactics dominated the final stages with a sacrificial attack that led to a forced draw. Illustrated report with GM analysis.

Women's WCh. G3: Change of tactics, but draw

3/6/2016 – After a failed opening in game one with 1.e4, failed because there had never been a chance to make a fight of it with white, reigning champion Mariya Muzychuk changed tactics, and opened with 1.d4 in game three. A Closed Catalan ensued with symmetrical pawns, and in spite of White's small edge thanks to a bishop pair, Hou Yifan was never in any danger. Report with GM commentary.

Women's WCh. G2: Hou Yifan draws first blood

3/3/2016 – If the first game of the match seemed to have both players circling each other as boxers in a ring, feeling each other out, in the second game, no punches were pulled. A fascinating Open Spanish was the name of the game, and the complications were such that both players consumed most of their time before move 20. See the game with grandmaster commentary.

Women's WCh. G1: A quiet Italian

3/3/2016 – The fanfare was a tribute to the passion and enthusiasm of Ukraine and especially Lviv as the match got underway. The media was present in force and game one was started. Playing black, Hou Yifan caught her opponent off-guard as she opted for an Italian game, and her choice was vindicated as Muzychuk failed to get anything from the opening. Report with GM analysis.

Women's World Ch. opening ceremony

3/2/2016 – The Champion, Mariya Muzychuk, has the white pieces in the first game of this Championship, which starts at 3 p.m. local time (2 p.m. CET, 8 a.m. NY). While you are waiting for that to happen, or watching the start of the game live on out news page, you can enjoy pictures from the opening ceremony that took place last night in the packed Lviv Opera House. Very nice indeed, with no effort spared.

Women's World Championship starts tomorrow

2/29/2016 – Ukrainian GM Mariya Muzychuk is the current title holder, having won the 2015 Knockout Women World Championship in Sochi. The Challenger is Hou Yifan of China, former World Champion 2010-2012, 2013-2015 (who did not participate in Sochi). The venue is Potocki’s Palace in Lviv, Ukrain – a city that has 30 GMs. The opening ceremony is on Tuesday, round one on Wednesday. Preview.
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