VIPs praise the new Chess Queen

The Closing Ceremony Of The Championship
http://wwcc2010.tsf.org.tr

The awarding ceremony of the World Championship took place in Anemon Hotel in Antakya on 24th of December. The same day the new world Champion was determined on the tie-break match between two Chinese players Hou Yifan and Ruan Lufei. Being 16, Chinese prodigy became the youngest World Champion after Maya Chiburdanidze who won her title at the age of seventeen. The achievement of Georgian legend stayed for 32 years until today.

Many principals and guests came to the closing ceremony to praise the new Queen of the Chess World. Among the visitors were FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of TCF Ali Nihat Yazici, the governor of Hatay M.Celalettin Lekesiz, the mayor of Antakya Lutfu Savas and other officials. As at the opening ceremony the organisers provided the audience with an original music show. The winners were awarded with the cups, medals, flowers and prize-money.

Source: Official website

Earning recognition

Chess match loss, but recognition won
By Bob Bauder
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 25, 2010

Lufei Ruan lost the woman's world chess championship Friday, but acquaintances in Pittsburgh say she gained international recognition for herself and the city with her remarkable climb to the tournament final.

"The whole chess world is stunned right now," said Alexander Shabalov, 47, a four-time U.S. chess champion from Squirrel Hill.

"Basically, she jumped way over her head. She was pretty much a few moves away from becoming a world champion, which is every chess player's dream. I'm sure it's just a heartbreaker for her."

Ruan, 23, a doctoral student at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, lost the title in a tie-breaker to chess prodigy Hou Yifan, 16. Both played for the Chinese team in the tournament held in Hatay, Turkey.

In an e-mail, Ruan said she was happy to have performed well but exhausted after playing for nearly a month with one day's rest.

"I think there are three reasons why she beat me," Ruan said. "Firstly, she is really a good player, and unlike me, she plays chess every day. Secondly, I played tie-break in every round, so I have played for 20 days with only one day rest. Finally, she has two coaches here, but I'm fighting alone. My coach is in China."

Kevin Mo, 15, a chess master from Franklin Park, said Ruan mainly competed against professional players. He found it remarkable that she beat all but one. Mo lost a game to Ruan last month and said he followed her every move in the tournament through the Internet.

"For her to balance studying and playing in the tournament, and for her to get this far is quite impressive," said the 10th-grader at North Allegheny High School. "It's good for chess in Pittsburgh. We now have a world championship contender here in Pittsburgh."

Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com

The new Chess Queen!

16 year old Hou Yifan (February 27, 1994) has just captured the Women's World Championship title! She won the rapid playoff against WGM Ruan Lufei by the score of 3-1!

Yifan is now the youngest Chess Queen in history. Congratulations!

One game left for the title and she did it!

Classical games

Hou, Yifan 2591 1/2 1 1/2 0 (2)
Ruan, Lufei 24801/2 0 1/2 1 (2)

Rapid playoff

Ruan, Lufei 2480 1/2 0 1/2 0 (1)
Hou Yifan 2591 1/2 1 1/2 1 (3)

Short interview with Ruan Lufei

Short interview with Ruan Lufei after the game

“I have an opportunity which I got for free”

Anastasia Karlovich- Congratulations with your victory today. Please tell how did you manage to win? Did you feel any pressure during the game?

Lufei Ruan- Before the last game I thought I don’t have much chance and I thought she would win or maybe it would be a draw. I thought I only need to play, just to play it. If I have chance I’ll take it if I don’t have chance than just a joy of the game is ok. Anyway I’m satisfied with my result here now… I’m satisfied even if I’m on the second place.

A.K- What about tomorrow tie-breaks. You won all previous matches in tie-breaks, so what is your feeling before the last one?

L.R- Hou Yifan is a very good rapid player, so she has good chances. I think she should have won the match today, so I still have options tomorrow. I have an opportunity which I get for free and I just want to play

Women's World Championship Final LIVE! Playoff

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The Final Count Down

One of these two young ladies will be the new Chess Queen after today! In addition to the Women's World Championship title, something else is on the line for them.

If Yifan wins, she will be the youngest Women's World Champion ever. If Lufei wins, she will also get the Grandmaster title.

When something so important comes down to a few rapid / blitz games, it will be a battle of nerves. The one more steady will be the next Chess Queen.

Who will win the playoff?

After 172 votes, it is tied at 50 percent with 86 votes each!


After 200 votes, it is tied at 50 percent with 100 votes each! Can you break the tie?

Now that the match ended in a 2-2 tie, who will win the playoff?
	Hou, Yifan
	Ruan, Lufei
pollcode.com

And we have a playoff!

Yifan inexplicably chose to get into a very sharp game when she only needed a draw to win the Women's World Championship. Just as in past games, Lufei misplayed her position to let her advantage disappear and to allow Yifan back into the game. However, a few inaccurate moves by Black allowed White to regain the momentum. This time, Lufei capitalized on her good position to even up the match. The match is now tied at 2-2. They will go into the playoff to decide the title.

Ruan, Lufei (2480) vs. Hou, Yifan (2591)
Women's World Championship (game 4)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 7. h4 Nc6 8. Rg1 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Bg2 Qe5+ 12. Be3 Qh2 13. f4 Bd7 14. Qd2 Nxd4 15. O-O-O Bc5 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O-O 18. Qc4+ Kb8 19. Qe4 Bc8 20. h5 Ka8 21. a4 Rd5 22. Rdf1 Qh4 23. Qc4 Rd7 24. a5 Qd8 25. a6 Qa5 26. Kb1 Kb8 27. axb7 Bxb7 28. Bxb7 Rxb7 29. Qd4 Ka8 30. Rf3 Rhb8 31. b3 f6 32. Rd1 Qb4 33. Qe3 Rb6 34. Rd4 Qe7 35. Qd3 R6b7 36. Re3 Re8 37. Rd6 e5 38. fxe5 fxe5 39. Re4 Qc7 40. Rd5 Qb8 41. Rc4 Rf8 42. Kb2 Qe8 43. Rdc5 Qe6 44. Qe4 Kb8 45. Rxe5 Qf6 46. Rc6 Qf7 47. Rf5 1-0

Women's World Championship Final LIVE! Game 4

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Can she do it?

Ruan, Lufei is trailing Hou, Yifan by the score of 1-2 with just one more classical game left. But she will have White in game 4. Do you think she can even up the score to force another playoff?

The big escape

Lufei had serious chances to even up the score today. However, Yifan's persistent defense and Lufei's inaccuracies resulted in a draw. It's a must win for her tomorrow or Yifan will be the new Chess Queen.

Hou, Yifan (2591) - Ruan, Lufei (2480)
Women's World Championship - Game 3

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 g6 7. N1f3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 h6 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 c5 12. Bc4 e6 13. Be3 Nf6 14. Qd3 Ng4 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. Rad1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 b6 18. Nd2 Qxc5 19. Qxc5 bxc5 20. c3 Bb7 21. Nb3 Rfc8 22. Na5 Rc7 23. Nxb7 Rxb7 24. Rd2 Rab8 25. Bb3 a5 26. Rc1 a4 27. Bxa4 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Rxb2 29. Bd1 Rxa2 30. g3 Ra3 31. c4 Bd4 32. Kg2 Ra2 33. Rc2 Ra1 34. Bf3 Kf8 35. h4 Ke7 36. Bc6 g5 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. g4 Ra3 39. Be4 Kd6 40. Re2 Kc7 41. Bh7 e5 42. Be4 Kb6 43. Rd2 Ka5 44. Bd5 f6 45. Kf1 Kb4 46. Ke2 e4 47. Rc2 e3 48. fxe3 Rxe3+ 49. Kd1 Rg3 50. Rg2 Rh3 51. Re2 Kc3 52. Rd2 Rh4 53. Rg2 Kd3 54. Rd2+ Ke3 55. Re2+ Kf4 56. Re4+ Kg3 57. Be6 Rh8 58. Kd2 Re8 59. Kd3 Rxe6 60. Rxe6 Kxg4 61. Re4+ Kf5 62. Re1 g4 63. Rf1+ Ke5 64. Re1+ Kd6 65. Ke4 Bf2 66. Rd1+ Ke6 67. Rd5 g3 68. Kf3 f5 69. Kg2 Kf6 70. Kf3 Kg5 71. Re5 Kg6 72. Rd5 Kf6 73. Kg2 Ke6 74. Kf3 f4 75. Kg2 Be3 ½-½

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Women's World Championship Final LIVE! Game 3

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Student aims to be Chess Queen

CMU student aims to be chess queen
By Craig Smith
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A Carnegie Mellon University doctoral student is hoping to return to Pittsburgh as the women's world chess champion -- if she can play David to her opponent's Goliath.

Lufei Ruan, 23, a student at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business who is playing for China, beat Xue Zhao, also of China, to reach the finals at the world championships in Hatay, Turkey, on Saturday. She's playing another Chinese player, Hou Yifan, 16, for the title this week.

Their first match Monday ended in a draw, which some observers count as a good sign for Ruan. But Yifan struck back Tuesday and led in the four-game match.

"Her nerves are very good," Alexander Shabalov, a four-time U.S. chess champion who lives in Squirrel Hill, said of Ruan, who defeated defending champion Alexandra Kosteniuk on her way to the finals. Ruan declined to be interviewed.

Strong nerves are needed in the high-stakes game, said Carnegie Mellon doctoral student Iryna Zenyuk, 24, a women's international master from Ukraine.

According to World Chess Federation rankings, Yifan is No. 3 in the world with 2,591 points; Ruan is rated No. 21 with 2,480 points.

Here is the full article.

Hou Yifan draws first blood in game 2

Ruan had a promising position early in the opening. However, a few inaccuracies cost her the advantage. Ruan continued to misplay the endgame and Hou Yifan took full advantage of it to score her first win in the Women's World Championship.

Ruan, Lufei (2480) - Hou, Yifan (2591) [B83]
WWC (2), 21.12.2010

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 Be7 7.0–0 Nc6 8.Be3 0–0 9.f4 e5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Kh1 exf4 12.Bxf4 Be6 13.Bf3 Qb8 14.b3 Qb4 15.Qe1 a5 16.Rd1 Rfe8 17.e5 dxe5 18.Bxe5 Rac8 19.Qg3 g6 20.Na4 Nd5 21.Bxd5 cxd5 22.Bc3 Qg4 23.Qxg4 Bxg4 24.Rxd5 Bb4 25.Bxb4 axb4 26.Rd2 Bf5 27.Kg1 Rxc2 28.Rxc2 Bxc2 29.Kf2 Bd3 30.Re1 Rc8 31.Ke3 Bb5 32.Rd1 Re8+ 33.Kf4 Re2 34.g4 Bxa4 35.bxa4 Rxa2 36.Rd4 Rxa4 37.h4 Kf8 38.Re4 f6 39.Rc4 Ke7 40.Rd4 Ke6 41.Ke4 Ke7 42.Kf4 h6 43.h5 gxh5 44.gxh5 Kf7 45.Re4 Kf8 46.Kg4 f5+ 47.Kxf5 Ra5+ 48.Kg6 Ra6+ 49.Kh7 Rb6 50.Rf4+ Ke7 51.Rf1 b3 52.Kg7 b2 53.Rb1 Ke6 54.Kxh6 Kf5+ 55.Kg7 Kg5 56.Kf7 Kxh5 57.Ke7 Kg4 58.Kd7 Black wins 0–1
　
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Women's World Championship Final LIVE! Game 2

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Fireworks end in a fizzle

The players went all out in aggressive fashion in the first game. However, at the end, they settled for a hard fought draw. The advantage now goes to Ruan, Lufei who will have two White games in the final three.

Hou Yifan (2591) - Ruan Lufei (2480) [B12]
Women's World championship 2010
Antakya, Turkey, 20.12.2010

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Bc4 Nd7 7.c3 b5 8.Bd3 Ngf6 9.0–0 Bd6 10.Bg5 0–0 11.Nbd2 h6 12.Bh4 Qc7 13.Qc2 Nh5 14.h3 Be6 15.Rae1 Nf4 16.Bg3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rad8 18.Bf2 a6 19.Nh4 Nb6 20.b3 Rfe8 21.Qf3 b4 22.Rc1 bxc3 23.Qxc3 exd4 24.Bxd4 c5 25.Bxg7 Bf4 26.Nhf3 Rxd2 27.Nxd2 Bxd2 28.Qxd2 Kxg7 29.Qc3+ Kh7 30.Qxc5 Qxc5+ 31.Rxc5 Ra8 32.Ra5 Nc8 33.Rc1 Nd6 34.e5 Nf5 35.Kf2 h5 36.Rc2 Nd4 37.Rd2 Nc6 38.Rc5 Ne7 39.b4 Kg6 40.a3 Kf5 41.Ke3 Rg8 42.Ra5 Rg3+ 43.Kf2 Rb3 44.Rxa6 Nd5 45.Ra5 Ne3 46.Rc5 Nc4 47.Rc2 Nxa3 48.R2c3 Rb2+ 49.Kg3 Nb1 50.Rf3+ Kg5 51.h4+ Kg6 52.Rc7 Kg7 53.Rf6 Kg8 54.Rf4 Rb3+ 55.Kh2 Rb2 56.Rc5 Na3 57.Rc3 Nb5 58.Rg3+ Kf8 59.Rg5 Nc7 60.Rxh5 Nd5 61.Re4 Kg7 62.Rg5+ Kh7 63.Rc4 Rb3 64.Rg3 Rb2 65.Rg5 Rb3 66.Rd4 Nxb4 67.Rg3 Rb2 68.Rc3 Nd5 69.Rcd3 Ne7 70.Rd2 Rb5 71.Re2 Ng6 72.Rde4 Bf5 73.e6 Bxe6 ½–½

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Who will be the next Chess Queen?

After 333 votes, 84% picked Hou Yifan to win the 2010 Women's World Championship.

Do you agree?

Who will be the next Chess Queen?
	Hou, Yifan
	Ruan, Lufei
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Paving way for a Chinese Chess Queen

Humpy leaves, paving way for a Chinese queen
Hari Hara Nandanan, TNN,
Dec 19, 2010, 01.03am IST

CHENNAI: There will be a Chinese queen in the women's World Chess Championship at Hatay. As Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy left the stage in the semi, losing to 16-year-old Hou Yifan 0.5-1.5, the final will now be a Chinese affair.

Yifan, who is a step away from creating a record for becoming the youngest women's (or open) world champion, will meet either Zhao Xue or Lufei Ruan, in the four-game final from Monday.

For Humpy, it was a second successive defeat in the semifinals of the World Championship and what must hurt her is the fact that both of them were inflicted by Yifan. Humpy has a good record against all the women GMs but against Yifan, she seems to have problems.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com