World Women's Team Championship: Hou Yifan shines

The second day of the FIDE Women’s World Team Championship once again showed why Linares is considered one of the most tradition-rich and fascinating venues in international chess. Even the start of the round reflected the special character of the event: with the traditional gong strike, Mariola Rus Rufino, Director General of the Department for Sports Values and Systems of the Junta de Andalucía, officially opened the matches — giving day two the same ceremonial touch that marked the tournament’s beginning.

Rounds 3 and 4

Pool A: Team FIDE continues its run

In Pool A, Team FIDE confidently extended its winning streak. Clear victories over Spain (3.5–0.5) and Azerbaijan (3–1) lifted the team to a perfect score. With this commanding lead, first place in the group is virtually secured — especially since their final-round opponent is Peru, a team that has lost all four of its matches so far.

Team FIDE is on course to win the group. | Photos: FIDE/Raul Martinez, Pavel Dvorkovich

Behind the leaders, however, the race has tightened. The United States and Kazakhstan are tied for second place, and their direct encounter in the final round will not only determine who finishes second but also shape their prospects going into the quarterfinals.

The battle for the fourth and final qualifying spot is the most intense. Spain and Azerbaijan are completely level — even in board points. Their head-to-head clash will therefore decide everything. Should the match end 2–2, the Sonneborn-Berger system will determine which team advances.

Spain is fighting for the fourth qualifying spot for the quarterfinals on the third day of the preliminary stage. | Photos: FIDE/Raul Martinez, Pavel Dvorkovich

Pool A also offered several fine moments on the chessboard. Particularly striking was the tactical blow delivered by GM Olga Girya against Mónica Calzetta Ruiz on board four.

As both players entered the final five minutes, Girya spotted a hidden tactical idea and opted for the energetic thrust 26…d4. Calzetta had several ways to keep the balance — for example: 27.cxd4 cxb4 28.d5!, which should hold, or the quieter 27.Nc2 dxc3 28.Rxc3, where a draw remains the most likely outcome. Instead, Calzetta chose 27.Ng4? to simplify the position quickly, but the move loses on the spot because of 27…Nxg4 28.hxg4, and now the powerful blow 28…dxc3!! follows. The rook on d7 is untouchable due to the decisive …c2–c1 promotion idea, leaving White no choice but to play 29.Rxc3, after which the simple 29…cxb4 gave Girya a completely winning position. The rest was a formality for Black.

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Pool B: Hou Yifan returns with a masterclass

Hou Yifan’s return to competitive play was impressive. | Photos: FIDE/Raul Martinez, Pavel Dvorkovich

Even before the tournament began, it was clear that day two would bring a special highlight: four-time World Champion Hou Yifan was making her first appearance for China in this event. And she delivered a debut fully worthy of her reputation. Her technically superb game against India’s top board, IM Padmini Rout, was a textbook example of precise endgame play.

A critical moment arose when Rout, in time trouble, missed the defensive move 44…Kg8 and instead played 44…Rg6?. Hou Yifan seized the opportunity immediately, creating several direct threats with 45.Rg3! that left the Black king with no breathing room. After 46.f4! exf4 47.Nxf4, the rook on g6 was practically trapped, and with a few more precise moves Hou converted her advantage into the full point.

The win secured an important 2–2 draw for China and lifted the team to second place — though they remain three points behind the Georgians.

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The Georgian team is dominating Group B. | Photos: FIDE/Raul Martinez, Pavel Dvorkovich

At the top of the table, everything is already decided: Georgia has impressed in Pool B with four wins from four matches and has secured first place with a round to spare. Remarkably, the players remain unbeaten on all boards.

Behind them, China, India, Uzbekistan and Ukraine are fighting for the remaining spots. The situation is particularly dramatic for Ukraine, which can only qualify with a large win against China and a decisive result in the Uzbekistan–India match. A 2–2 draw in that parallel encounter would eliminate the Ukrainians for good. France, with just one point so far, is already out.

This sets the stage for a highly tense final round in the battle for quarterfinal qualification.

Outlook

Only one round is scheduled for the third day: round five is the final round of the preliminary stage and begins on 20 November at 13:30. Fans around the world can follow the games live — with expert commentary by GM Antoaneta Stefanova and GM Ivan Cheparinov. 

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