Kazan GP: Turkey's Yildiz shocks world champion Hou Yifan

[Event "FIDE Women's GP 2012"] [Site "Kazan"] [Date "2012.06.11"] [Round "2"] [White "Hou, Yifan"] [Black "Yildiz, Betul Cemre"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2623"] [BlackElo "2333"] [Annotator "Ramirez,Alejandro"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] [EventCountry "RUS"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d5 8. exd5 Qxd5 {In many variations of the Spanish, including this Moller, the game turns sharp very quickly. Here Black has seized the center and seems to have better development - but her weaknesses and uncastled king allow White to develop with tempi.} 9. d4 exd4 10. Bg5 (10. Re1+ Kf8 {transposes to a note below}) 10... Bg4 11. Bxf6 Bxf3 12. Re1+ Kf8 (12... Kd7 $5) 13. Bb3 $1 {An important intermezzo, without this White is proably just worse.} Qe4 14. Bxg7+ $6 {Too risky} (14. Bxd4 Nxd4 15. Rxe4 Bxd1 16. Bxd1 Ne6 17. Nd2 {Gives White a small pull. The h8 rook will take a few moves to get back in the game and meanwhile White may pressure the queenside. However a draw was agreed here immediately in the game Kotronias-Mamedyarov 2007}) 14... Kxg7 {It's commendable to see Yildiz's knowledge of this variation. It is not easy to outprepare the World Champion!} 15. gxf3 $2 {And this is just too ambitious. White had to settle for } (15. Rxe4 Bxd1 16. Bxd1 Rhe8 {But Black is obviously the one fighting for the initiative.}) 15... Qf5 16. Nd2 $2 {White wants to finish development, but this self imposed pin will cost a piece.} dxc3 17. bxc3 Rad8 $6 {An innacuracy, even though it is not obvious why just yet.} (17... Rhd8 18. Kh1 Qf4 {was far superior, as Black now hows h8 for her king.}) 18. Kh1 Qf4 19. Re4 Qxd2 20. Qg1+ Kf8 21. Qg4 $1 {Very resourceful. This move creates a series of threats connected with the weakness on f7. Black must tread carefully. Being able to create problems is the mark of a strong player, even if they are in worst situations.} Qd6 $4 {An unfortunate move, which might have cost dearly.} (21... Bxf2 22. Bxf7 Qxc3 {forced White to find the spectacular} 23. Rg1 $1 {and Black can try to win with Qf6 or settle for a draw with Bxg1.}) 22. Qh5 $6 (22. Qf5 $1 $18 {There is no good way to defend f7 since the bishop on c5 needs protection.} Rd7 23. Re6 {Regains the piece and gives White a winning attack.}) 22... Rd7 23. Rae1 $2 (23. Rd1 {is enough to guarantee white an advantage. She will be down material but again the threats are very strong.} Qxd1+ 24. Bxd1 Rxd1+ 25. Kg2 Rg8+ 26. Kh3 {and White is threatening both Qxc5+ and Qh6+}) 23... Bxf2 $1 {Black is back on track! This move is brave and forced. Now that g1 is covered, the attack dwindles. White is now the one that must think about saving her position.} 24. Rd1 $4 {This is too late now} (24. Re8+ Kg7 25. Rxh8 Qg6 $1 (25... Kxh8 26. Bc2 h6 27. Re8+ {is suprisingly winning.}) 26. Qxg6+ hxg6 {And Black has more than enough compensation for the exchange. Good active pieces, better structure and better coordination overall. I'd take Black in this endgame almost every time.}) 24... Qg6 $1 {A nice resource. The rook on d7 is taboo, so White must exchange queens.} (24... Rg8 {was also winning.}) 25. Qxg6 Rxd1+ {The intermediate check seals the deal. The rest is easy for the Turkish star.} 26. Bxd1 hxg6 27. Bb3 Bc5 28. Kg2 Bd6 29. h3 Rh5 30. a4 Re5 31. Rh4 Re2+ 32. Kf1 Re3 33. axb5 axb5 34. Bd5 Ne7 {A topsy turvy game! Many variations had to be calculated, but Black's bold play was rewarded at the end.} 0-1