Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru to test strength of women’s brave new world
Leonard Barden
Friday 11 March 2011 12.55 GMT
The world championship for men is beset by controversy, yet top women are enjoying a financial bonanza. Though female players have competed for meagre rewards in the past, each of the six just finished Grand Prix tournaments had €40,000 (£24,981) prize money.
The venues were in Armenia, China, Mongolia, Qatar, Russia and Turkey, the Eastern heartland for the International Chess Federation (Fide). Hou Yifan,16 and already world champion, won the series but the really important result was last weekend’s final event at Doha, Qatar, where India’s Humpy Koneru qualified for a 10-game world title match against the Chinese teenager.
This outcome looked unlikely half-way through the tournament, as Elena Danielian made a flying start with five straight wins. The Armenian slowed in the second half while Koneru finished strongly and caught her in the final round.
Apart from Hungary’s all-time No1 Judit Polgar, who stopped competing in female tournaments at age 12, Hou Yifan and Koneru are the best on the planet and natural rivals. They met over just two games in the semi-final of the 2010 world title knock-out, so the longer match will be a true test of strength between representatives of ambitious nations.
India’s Vishy Anand holds the world men’s championship, so Koneru will aim both to emulate her compatriot and to prove a point to her chess federation’s officials whose backing for her has been lukewarm.
More here.
I put my money on Humpy.
I’m from India and am aware that Humpy is a very strong GM but Hou is still improving and has the edge. Hou will get full backing from her federation while Humpy is at odds with the egoistic DV Sundar. I hope Humpy does well in the forthcoming WC match,not least to show the middle finger to the Indian Chess Fed officials.
Then, you just throw your money in water. It has been proved twice already.
I’ll put my money on Humpy. She can dance for me.
This article says it like it is:
“…. India Chess Federation whose backing for Koneru has been lukewarm”
That’s what I aimed to show in this YouTube clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjNMtoBexOM
India, is such a beautiful land with beautiful people. Why are they on self-destruct?
This just baffles the mind. Certain countries just do not know their worth. Sheesh!
Anonymous Friday, March 11, 2011 8:25:00 AM CST
You are asking others to throw money in water. Can you guarantee that Hou will win?
It is not over till it is over.
Humpy is a positional player while Hou is tactically strong. Humpy needs to find good trainers and find the best way against Hou.