Youngest Hou Yifan wins national chess title
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The 2007 National Chess Championship wound up in Chongqing city with 13 year old Hou Yifan setting an unbeaten record to win her first title. Hou becomes the youngest player to win the championship, breaking the record set by Shanghai’s Qin Kanying who won her first title at the age of 14 in 1988.
Monday was the final day of matches at the 2007 National Chess Championship. Her victory on the last day made the 13-year-old Hou Yifan the youngest chess national champion.
Hou Yifan didn’t let her fans down. She also broke the record set by Qin Kanying from Shanghai who was crowned at 14 in 1988.
Hou Yifan said, “I am very happy to be the champion, but it’s just the beginning of my chess career. I will play chess for a long time and I’m starting to think about the next competition as soon as I finished this one. I won’t be over excited about it.”
Second and third place went to Zhao Xue and Shen Yang respectively. While in the men’s group, reigning champion Ni Huali won his second straight title.
Source: CCTV
Congratulations to Hou. I see her following in Judit’s footsteps.
Meanwhile, I am happy for Ni Hua as well. I remember him from that game he lost to Morozevich in the China vs. Russia match that eventually gave Russia the title. All China needed in this last match was one point from four boards. Bu Xiangzi already took a half-point from Zvidler on Board 1 and everyone was waiting on Ni Hua to turn in his own half-point from Morozevich
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2730
I recall Ni Hua cried openly after the game. Never seen someone that publicly passionate about chess before.
Hou Yifan is an incredible chess talent.
Just imagine where she will be in a few years…
Judit better check her rear-view mirror!