GM-elect Hou (2557) – IM_Mkrtchian (2436) [B13]
WWC – Nalchik, 07.09.2008
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qc8 8.Nd2 e6 9.Ngf3 Be7 10.0–0 Bh5 11.Ne5 Bg6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bh2 Bg5 15.f4 Be7 16.Nf3 Nf6 17.Rae1 Bd6 18.Ne5 Ne7 19.Qa4+ Kf8 20.Qc2 Bc7 21.Rf3 Nf5 22.g4 Nd6 23.Bxg6 fxg6 24.Nxg6+ Kf7 25.Nxh8+ Qxh8 26.f5 Re8 27.Bxd6 Bxd6 28.fxe6+ Rxe6 29.Rxe6 Kxe6 30.Qf5+ Ke7 31.g5 Ne8 32.Qc8 Qh5 33.Re3+ Kf8 34.Qf5+ Qf7 35.Qh7 Bh2+ 36.Kg2 Nd6 37.Qh8+ Qg8 38.Qxg8+ White wins 1–0
Click here to replay the game.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Go China!!! Go!!!
And Cramling-Kosteniuk… a queen against a rook!
But Hou-Koneru is the the real final fight… let’s hope for pure delight! 🙂
The final will be Hou-Cramling.
The final will be Hou-Cramling
Hard to say, Humpy is more experienced at this point. No doubt in my mind Hou will be stronger in the future, right now the scale might still tip in Humpy’s favor slightly.
Humpy has the xtra zip this time to become the champion. Future battles will also be between these two for sometime to come.possibly from Harika too.
I think FIDE again misplayed by giving first seeding to former WWC. That meant that though by rating Hou and Koneru should have been a final match, but now its a semi final. Its unfair to both of them.
I disagree. World champion deserves to be seeded first. Always. Otherwise what is the point of being a champion?
It’s only a pitty that during the babyy break Xu Yuhua lost her form from 2 years ago. Hu Yuhua from 2006 would definatelly be in the semi-final.
yes but we are in 2008 not 2006
What a shame this isn’t the final! I think the winner has a very good chance at winning it all. But don’t dismiss the winner of Cramling vs Kosteniuk pulling an upset. Playing form/strength at current tournament plays a big part.
2006 is not so far away that the last winner wouldn’0t deserve to being seeded as number 1.
Before the knockouts the last Champion had much greater privileges based on a win that happened 3 years ago! And nobody complained. In fact many would like to return to those days.
Hou good luck ;)!