The defending Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan, the #2 ranked player in this competition, is eliminated after losing both playoff games to Monika Socko. After winning the first game with black, Hou Yifan lost the next 3 games.
The #1 ranked player of the championship, Humpy Koneru, was eliminated yesterday by Natalia Zhukova. 3rd seed Anna Muzychuk is also eliminated today after losing both playoff games to Ushenina.
There is a good chance that a new world champion will be crowned as Stefanova remains the only one left in the competition who has once held the crown before.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Wow we will have a random world champion! But go Anna Ushenina, you are the hottest one!
Wow we will have a random world champion! But go Anna Ushenina, you are the hottest one!
Wow we will have a random world champion! But go Anna Ushenina, you are the hottest one!
True to expectation, this is like a lottery (only for some). Koneru will not have a shot at next year Women World title. Hou Yifan will challenge the new 2012 Champion. Who will it be? Can the underdogs go with the momentum. Monica Socko must be one of the favorite. Maybe, the title will return to Russia. Or remain in China. Three Chinese and four Russian still in with a chance. I still think Zhao Xue stand an excellent chance. She is after all the highest rated player of the bunch. Hou Yifan can now return to her Uni study .
Hou Yifan suffered from heavy flu during her match against Socko because of the cold weather. In game 1, she played like computer analysis. In game 2 and 2 tie-breaks, she missed many simple moves. She also caught flu in her previous visits here (Khanty-Mansiysk).