Women World Chess Championship
Malaysian has been ’side blogging’ on this blog using the comment section. I thought for once I’ll bring out his comments as a post here:-
Today’s game for the WWCC crown should be most interesting. Hou Yifan needs a win to get a shot at the title play-off while Kosteniuk only needs to draw with White to claim the championship. It is youth versus experience at the top level.
In a recent team match, a bunch of young top GM’s comprehensively defeated a group of "veterans" to demonstrate the might of the current players. Moreover, Hou Yifan is some 40 Elo points higher than her opponent and youth has a certain advantage at the tail end of a long tournament.
Nevertheless, in this head on match, Kosteniuk held all the thrump cards and was never in any danger of losing. In fact, Hou Yifan has had 2 incredible escapes from positions which appeared utterly lost. Fortunately for her, her end-game technique is superb and she never lost her head at the edge of the precipice. But a half point lead at this stage is priceless.
So, who shall it be? I believe, if the match goes the distance, Hou Yifan will win. She demonstrated this against Humpy, who is higher Elo rated than her by taking the play-offs 3-1. So, Kosteniuk’s destiny to be World Champion or runner-up a second time will be decided tonight.
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Comments
The game has slowed down considerably. As usual, Kosteniuk is ahead on time; but remember, Hou Yifan played well under pressure to secure 2 draws from totally lost positions. Even Fritz 11 evaluated the last game as a lost for Ho Fifan, but she got away….
To draw or not to draw…. Kosteniuk is thinking hard. Time is level now…. Now Hou YiFan has a minute more.
Kosteniuk exchanges f pawn for Black’s e pawn, opening the f-file for both players. This won’t be a draw.
White pieces have more mobility. Black as 2-1 pawn majority in centre. Game has slowed to a crawl. Hou Yifan has 3 minutes more. Move 19.
A Knight exchange on d4 gets White a Rook in the centre and pressure on Black’s pawn on d6. Ho Yifa is now 12 minutes down…
A White Rook manoeuvre in the centre to attack Black’s Queen. It appears a bit clumsy and Rook may be trapped. Fritz 11 says +/=(0.61). Time: Hou YiFan is down 25 minutes with 30 minutes on her clock left.
Hou YiFan is in moderate time trouble, as usual. Kosteniuk is superior when entering middle-game, as all previous games have shown.
No change in Fritz 11 evaluation, but White is miles ahead on time. With a need to win, Hou YiFan is in trouble. Only move 21. Black needs to make 19 moves in 21 minutes but with 30 seconds add on.
At this juncture, I think Black has to go for broke but White’s pieces hold critical squares. White’s positional dominance is beginning to tell. 16 minutes left for Black.
White Rook is attacked and may be trapped. Hou Yifan spent a lot of time on this move b5. Fritz 11 gives +/- (0.39)
This is a critical moment. Whie risks having his Rook trapped or loses his centre e pawn. Black has equalised. Fritz says = (0.17). Kosteniuk is thinking hard.
What is in her mind now… World champion or nothing. This is real torture… This game called chess can make people insane!!!
Kosteniuk choses to yield the centre and her e pawn falls.
Else her Rook may be trapped. Fritz 11 says = (0.11). Very tactical from now on. A mistake on either side and it’s kaput.
Retreating her knight instead of a centre pawn push which is equal. Now White has attack while Black has a centre protected passer. Who shall it be? Fritz gives +/- (0.76)
Black’s pieces are firing from the back rank and Black pawns are advancing in the centre. Fritz 11 gives +/= (0.30)
Without Fritz, I would play Black because of her central connected passed pawns. White 23 min Black 13 minutes, move 31
Black skewers Queen and Rook, but her own Rook is under attack. Fritz 11 gives +/= (0.31) 16 to 12 minutes. It is a wonder nobody has blundered yet!
Very complicated tactical solution with pieces hanging everywhere. Fritz 11 gives +/= (0.33). Incredible as it looks like one side or the other has a forced win already. 14-7 min.
Kosteniuk sacrifices Rook for Knight to expose the Black King, threatening perpetual check. Time 8-2 move 38
Now Kosteniuk makes a weak move and game is nearly equal. Time trouble is over and the players settle down to count the spoils. Fritz 11 gives +/= (0.49).
Still a very interesting mid-middle game. Black has Rook for Bishop and 2 double passers on the b file. Black has an advanced passed e pawn. Remember, Hou Yifan used that e pawn in game 2 and 3 to draw.
Kosteniuk has won the WCC, I think without losing a game. Today belongs to Kosteniuk, but I am sure Hou Yifan’s time will come. Her defensive technique is very good, but the transition from opening to middle game gave her trouble against Kosteniuk, who was a former finalist herself.
The next few years will see her dueling with Humpy for the best woman player in the world. Perhaps her next target is to get into the 2600 bracket and prepare for the next WCC. Good luck to her.
Both players appear fully prepared for the Sicilian and rattled-off 15 moves in less than 5 minutes. It is a logical choice for Hou Yifan who needs a win at all cost. Not so for Kosteniuk. After missing 2 wins in previous games, Kosteniuk is perhaps trying hard to prove her superiority with White. But is this necessary. Time will tell.