Xu Yuhua Crowned New Women’s World Chess Champion

Xu Yuhua of China earned the title of Women’s World Chess Champion today when she defeated Russian master Alisa Galliamova in the third game of a scheduled four-game match to conclude the Women’s World Champion event in Ekaterinaberg, Russia.



Xu Yuhua

The single-elimination event began March 10 with 64 competitors. Up to and including the semi-final rounds, competition consisted of two-game matches between two players with the winner advancing to the next round and the loser being eliminated. If the two games were split, the opponents would play two rapid games (a rapid game has an accelerated time control) and, if still no winner was determined, go on to play two blitz games (a blitz game has a five-minute time control). If the score was still even after the blitz games, another blitz game would be played with Black given the odds of draw.

Xu and Galliamova were the last players remaining after five rounds.

In the final round, which began Thursday, Xu won the first game playing Black. Friday’s second game ended in a draw.

Today’s game began with White (Galliamova) opening with her Queen’s Pawn and Black (Xu) choosing a Queen’s Indian Defense. By the 24th move, White had an advanced passed Pawn on the c-file, forcing Black to defend against further advance. Xu rose to the occasion and defended beautifully. The Pawn was still on c6 when Galliamova resigned 34 moves later. In the meantime, the game was reduced to an ending with each player having two Rooks and opposite-colored Bishops. Black created her own threats with a passed e-Pawn and regained the initiative. On her 48th move, White threatened to take a hanging Bishop, but Black left the Bishop hanging for several moves while creating successive threats, including one of immediate checkmate, which gave White no time to take the Bishop. White could only meet the threats by surrendering material. On the 52nd move, Black won a Rook for the bargain price of a Bishop. Galliamova resigned on the 59th move.

For Galliamova, this is the second time she has been second best in a match for the women’s world title. In 1999, she lost a match to then-reigning champion Xie Jun of China.

Xu Yuhua was born in China 29 years ago. She is coached by China’s leading grandmaster, Ye Jiangjung. In recent years, she has won or placed highly in a number of international women’s events.


Photo from the official website of the Women's World Chess Championship