Hou Yifan’s advance continues
For many years, speculation has continued as to why women in general have just not performed as well as men in competitive chess. Whatever the reasons may be, the passing of time has shown the skill gap between the sexes to be slowly narrowing. Though the difference is still significant, it is no longer considered remarkable to see female masters in events. Few eyebrows are lifted at the sight of many of them quite frequently competing successfully among men in major tournaments. Looking at the world level, it is now necessary for a woman to sport a high master’s rating if she wishes to even be on the threshold of entering the Women’s Top-100 list.
Atop that list these days is 20-year-old Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan of China, who continues to break ground for her gender. She gained notice as a preteen when she qualified to play in the Women’s World Championship at age 12. At 14, she became a Grandmaster, the youngest woman ever to do so. Then, she won the Women’s World Title two years later. As Champion, she has continued to excel, advancing her rating to above 2600, the territory occupied by the world’s famous players.
Recently, she was invited to compete among some of the world’s best checkmaters; yes, all men. The tournament, held in Biel, Switzerland, hosted players with an average rating in the super-Granmdmaster level (above 2700 points). Yifan started strongly in the first round by defeating one of the best, 20year-old Anish Giri, a threetime Dutch Champion ranked 14th in the world. [See this column’s game.] She played strongly round after round to maintain second going into the last round and was in a position to tie for first should she win.
She didn’t. Still, her postevent rating listed on the Live Chess Ratings website has put her within 15 points of Judit Polgar, the highestrated woman in history. In addition, Yifan’s live rating would put her into the Top 100 GMs worldwide.
Game of the week
Hou,Yifan-Giri,Anish Hans Suri Memorial Biel, Switzerland
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+(A) Nd7(B) 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Be2(C) Ngf6 7.0–0 e5 8.Qe3 d5?!(D) 9.exd5 Bc5(E) 10.Qd2 0–0 11.c4(F) e4 12.Nd4 Ne5 13.b4!(G) Ba7 14.Nc3 Bg4 15.c5!(H) a5 16.a3 Nxd5 17.Nxe4 Bb8 18.f3(I) Nf4?! 19.Nd6!(J) Bxd6 20.cxd6 Nxe2+ 21.Qxe2(K) Qxd6 22.Nb5(L) Qf6 23.fxg4 Nf3+ 24.Qxf3 Qxa1 25.Be3 Qf6(M) 26.Qxf6 gxf6 27.Nc7 Rac8 28.Nd5(N) 1–0
A) This Moscow Variation (or Canal-Sokolsky Attack) of the Sicilian Defense has established a reputation as being useful in avoiding theory. It would be more accurate to say that it reduces the quantity of theory that one needs to know. It has been observed that Yifan has chosen such less-traveled roads before. B) Most frequent is ...Bd7, but the move played tries to create more counterattacking chances for Black. C) Quite unusual. Most common is Bxd7+. Magnus Carlsen chose to play that move twice last year against then World Champion Viswanathan Anand; draws resulted. D) Rather risky and questionable. Black is still uncastled and behind in development. The general rule in the Sicilian is to get in the freeing ...d5 move; but, there are exceptions. E) Here is his idea evidently; he sacrifices the pawn for development of his King’s Bishop followed by castling. The old saying applies though: “a pawn is a pawn.” Recapture of the pawn leads to a favorable position for White: 9...Nxd5 10.Qd2 N5f6 11.Nc3. F) Locks down the gain. G) Aggressive play by the Women’s Champion, capturing more territory. H) Suffocating the bishop and continuing to encroach. It involves a pawn exchange. I) Another pushy move. Getting deeper in trouble, Giri goes for tactical tricks starting with his next move. J) Not falling for anything. The tactics now favor White. Note that 19.Qxf4? Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Bxf3 21.Nxf3 gives Black at least an even game. K) Two Black pieces are under attack. L) The kicker; saving the knight and winning a piece. M) 25...Qa2? 26.Bc5 Rfd8 27.Qxb7+-. N) A nice finish; all White pieces in place and on target and Black hopeless.