In the second game of the match for the women chess crown Hou Yifan had white pieces, but could not get anything from the opening. Humpy Koneru chose Russian game and comfortably equalized the position.
This opening came as a surprise to the world champion, at the press-conference the Chinese confessed that did not expect it and did not prepare against it. The encounter entered the endgame stage quite early where Black stood slightly more active on the queenside what nevertheless was not enough for a real advantage. After the time control was passed, the players agreed for a draw.
After two games the score is equal (1-1). At the 16th of November the players have a rest day. The organizers prepared an excursion to the beautiful Albanian mountains.
In the third game (November, 17th, 3pm local time) Humpy Koneru will have white pieces.
The official tournament web page: http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com/
Photos from the second game and press-conference are in attachment.
Photo by Anastasiya Karlovich and Anna Burtasova with kind permission of FIDE (http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com/).
Anastasiya Karlovich, FIDE Press officer
Very nice surprise.
at first, I thought Humpy’s ..Qe8 was dubious but then, it helped messing up Yifan’s mind.
Very nice indeed.