The World champion won the sixth game of the match and is now two points ahead of the challenger Humpy Koneru.
Although White got an edge from the opening, the Chinese managed to equalize and break the position in the time trouble to come out as a winner.
The outcome is even more surprising when one knows that Hou Yifan spent several hours in the hospital the previous night. 17 years old experienced severe pains in her stomach aria and was immediately taken into the best hospital of Tirana by the organizers and FIDE officials. The doctors checked her medical condition, but the necessary tests proved there was no other problem, beside psychological pressure. Hou Yifan declined taking any pain killers. After this “preparation” for the game she nevertheless sat at the board in a perfect fighting condition and managed not only to neutralize chess preparation of the opponent, but take an upper hand.
In the next four games Koneru should fight two points back to survive in the match.
On the 22nd of November the players have a rest day. The 7th game of the match will be played on the 23rd of November.
Photo and info courtesy of FIDE and the organizer: http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com
Susan, I would like to know your opinion on their game qualities so far. Thank you!
This match is over…but if Tal was in Koneru’s spot….
Yifan has better nerve while Humpy prepare the game better. It is an very intense game today because Yifan only had 16mins left on her clock while Humpy had 1:10 hour.
Ridiculous play by Koneru given such an adv. in time. She is not worthy to be world champion. Truly.
Today she lost a fan in me. That I know for sure.
In search for another female Chess Super Star. I’d like to see Abrahamian fight for the title.
Humpy is finished. She has lost it,completely. Now it’s time for her to get married and raise kids. All partly due to her suffocating dad. Forget about top flight chess. As for Yifan, she needs to climb and conquer more barriers,if she wants to get within spitting distance of Judith. She is quite young and can do it.