The Week in Chess

Hou Yifan won the first game of the FIDE Women's World Chess Championship in Taizhou, China. Former champion Hou started the event as favourite to regain her title following losing it in a knockout championship last year having an advantage of over 100 points over her rival Anna Ushenina. Ushenina's big strength is her world class opening preparation. Ushenina got a very nice advantage with white in a Nimzo-Indian. Nothing terribly clear but an advantage all the same. Ushenina then started to use a lot of time 23.Nh4 was a bold idea giving up a pawn on the queenside, but already after 27.Nd5 black wasn't worse, 34.Be4 may have been the last chance for white to hold as 35...Nf7 started a decisive redeployment of the knight for an attack and it was mate in two when Ushenina resigned. Perhaps a little too early to write Ushenina off but losing with white from a favourable position again the favourite might be a signal for a runaway win for Hou Yifan.