Anna Ushenina Greeted as a Hero Back Home

Reported at Chessdom, which contains many photographs!

Anna Ushenina welcomed as hero in Ukraine

Dec 5, 2012

[Excerpted] For the first time in the chess history of the independent Ukraine a chess player got the title of the World Women Chess Champion. Anna Ushenina, 27-years old from Kharkiv, won in the final against former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova.

On December 3rd, 2012 in Kharkiv a festive meeting of the World Women Chess Champion Anna Ushenina was held. Here are all the details of the airport meeting, a photo report, a short biography of Anna Ushenina, and the congratulatory letters by Ukrainian officials.

Many supporters came to the airport in order to congratulate Anna Ushenina for the brilliant achievement and to organize a warm meeting on the native land. Among them were her mother Olga, friends, colleagues and admirers, local authorities and the chess federation representatives, in particular President of the Kharkiv Region Chess Federation, rector of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Sergey Gusarov, Head of Family, Youth and Sports Department of Kharkiv Region State Administration Dmitry Perepelitsa, vice rector of NU “Law Academy of Ukraine”, President of Chess Club “Law Academy” Anatoly Getman, Anna’s coach and manager, first vice president of the Kharkiv Chess Federation Gennady Krugovoy.

Anna Ushenina and - not sure - her mother? Press Conference
on December 3, 2012

The President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin followed the competition online during his official business trip abroad. On his behalf, the Head of the UCF International Cooperation Commission Olena Boytsun also greeted Anna Ushenina for the brilliant victory.

The President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin stated about Anna Ushenina’s historical victory, “This striking success became possible due to years of Anna’s daily hard work and her outstanding personal qualities – endurance, strong will, and confidence. Anna Ushenina is an example of commitment and talent, professionalism and chess excellence, she is the pride of Ukraine!” Until now none of the Ukrainian women chess players participated in the final for the world chess crown. Viktor Kapustin expressed confidence that this important event in the history of national chess would be the beginning of a new stage in development of chess in Ukraine.

Short Biography of Anna Ushenina

• Anna Ushenina (born 30.08.1985, Kharkiv), is International Women Grandmaster, International Master among men, honored master of sports of Ukraine, member of the national women’s team of Ukraine.
• On 01.11.2012, with ELO 2452 is rated at 38th position among women in the world. The highest rating 2502 was achieved on 01.07.2007

The highest achievements:

• Champion of Ukraine among girls under 12 years (1997);
• Two-time champion of Ukraine among girls under 14 years (1998 and 1999);
• Two-time champion of Ukraine among girls of 20 years (2000 and 2002);
• European champion among girls under 18 in the national girls team of Ukraine and silver prizewinner at the 1st board (2002);
• Champion of Ukraine among women, a bronze medalist in the championship of Ukraine among girls under 20 (2005);
• World champion of the Women’s Chess Olympiad in the national team of Ukraine (Turin, Italy), silver medalist of Ukrainian championship among women (2006);
• Bronze medalist of team championship among women in the national team of Ukraine, the first place on the 3rd board in the national team of Ukraine for European Women’s Team Championship (2007);
• Silver medalist at the World Women’s Chess Olympiad in the national team of Ukraine (Dresden, Germany), bronze medalist of European Championship for Women (2008);
• Bronze medalist at World Team Championship (Ningbo, China) and Europe (Novi Sad, Serbia) among women in the national team of Ukraine (Ningbo, China, 2009);
• Champion of Ukraine at rapid and blitz chess among women (2012);
• Second place in the international women’s Super Tournament in Krasnotur’yinsk and international chess festival «Moscow Open» among women tournament “C” (Russia, 2008);
• Winner of International Women Grandmaster Tournament “12-th Cup of Rector” (Kharkiv, 2010);
• Bronze medalist at the World Women’s Chess Olympiad in the national team of Ukraine (Istanbul, Turkey, 2012);
• FIDE World Women Chess Champion (Khanty-Mansiysk, 2012).

Text and photos by Anna Korol

2012 FIDE WWCC: Ushenina Wins Title!

From The Week in Chess:

27 year old Ukrainian Anna Ushenina emerged as the 14th World Champion. Ushenina won the second rapidplay game in the final against former champion (2004-6) Antoaneta Stefanova. Ushenina will defend the title against now former champion Hou Yifan in a match next year.

Name	FED	G1	G2	G3	G5	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 6 Match 01
Ushenina, Anna	UKR	½	½	1	0	½	1						3½
Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	½	½	0	1	½	0						2½

From the official website:

Anna Ushenina became the new World Champion

01.12.2012

The Ukrainian grandmaster defeated Antoaneta Stefanova on tie-break.

The tie-break between Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) and Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) was short, but the struggle was really tense.

Antoaneta Stefanova had White in the first rapid game. She obtained a minimal advantage in the opening, but her central break was a bit premature, as it allowed Black to open the files and activate her pieces. The position got simplified, and Black eventually equalized. In the subsequent maneuvering game White tried different tricks, but Black defended accurately and parried all threats. A draw was agreed on 89^th move.

In the second game Anna Ushenina demonstrated an opening novelty and seized the initiative. Stefanova ended up in a worse position and was short on time. After the exchange of queens White got a spatial advantage, invaded Black’s camp with her rooks and won a pawn. Stefanova did not want to defend passively and attempted to activate her pieces, but Ushenina exchanged a pair of rooks and denied her counterplay. Soon White won another pawn and accurately converted her decisive material advantage.

The score in the final is 3.5-2.5 in favor of Anna Ushenina (Ukraine). FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov congratulated her with this historic achievement at the concluding press-conference. The FIDE President arrived today to Khanty-Mansiysk to participate in the closing ceremony of the 2012 Women’s World Championship.

Dudes!  Can't you tell the lady wants to visit the rest room?  She's already got her purse over
her shoulder eager to get away as Stefanova gives her a smiling fingers touch (lady handshake). 
Get that clipboard and pen out of her face, already!  Geez, sometimes dudes are so dense.

Interview with Anna Ushenina afterward at the official website.  Kirsan the Alien is also present and spoke more than Anna did.  Interestingly, he invited Ushenina to play in the next World Cup (Men's) that will be held in Tromso, Norway.  Let's see what happens, shall we...

2012 FIDE WWCC: Stefanova Equalizes in G4

It's to the play-offs for the ladies after Stefanova's victory today with the white pieces.  Hmmm, I'm wondering if she dressed like the White Swan on purpose...

From The Week in Chess:

Antoaneta Stefanova beat Anna Ushenina in a terribly nervy struggle where Ushenina was completely busted shortly out of the opening. Stefanova then started to miss the best and Ushenina was right back in the game if she'd found 31...Ba8! instead she played 31...Bb1? and had to resign. Almost anything could happen in the playoffs.

Name	FED	G1	G2	G3	G5	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 6 Match 01
Ushenina, Anna	UKR	½	½	1	0								2
Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	½	½	0	1								2

Official website.

The World Champion will be determined on tie-break tomorrow.

After losing the third game of the World Championship final match, Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) needed to win the last game with classical time control today.

The players continued their opening discussion in the Slav defense. The Bulgarian got a promising position after the opening, while her opponent Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) played inaccurately and lost a couple of important tempi. The critical moment occurred on the 19^th move, when White offered a pawn sacrifice in order to begin actions on the kingside. After very long thought Black declined the offer and retreated her queen to a passive location. This allowed White to regroup her pieces and threaten the black king. In the ensuing struggle the Ukrainian did not find all the defensive resources, and White got an overwhelming advantage. When the goal was within reach, White made a mistake and allowed her opponent to complicate the game. However, Black returned the favor, committing a blunder on the next move. Stefanova delivered a tactical blow, making the checkmate inevitable, and Ushenina resigned on the 33^rd move.

The match score is now tied – 2-2. The winner will be determined on tie-break tomorrow, December 1. The tie-break begins with two rapid games – 25 minutes plus 10 bonus seconds per move. If the score remains tied, the players continue with two more games with 10 minutes plus 10 bonus seconds per move. If the score is still tied, the players compete in two blitz games – 5 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Finally, if the winner is still not determined, they proceed to an ultimate game, also known as the Armageddon – White has 5 minutes, Black has 4 minutes, each side receives 3 bonus second per move, starting with the move 61, and a draw counts as a victory for Black.

2012 FIDE WWCC: Game 3 -- Stefanova Caught Flat-Footed!

Name	FED	G1	G2	G3	G5	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 6 Match 01
Ushenina, Anna	UKR	½	½	1									2
Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	½	½	0									1

From The Week in Chess:

Game 3 could not have gone better for Anna Ushenina who completely caught out Antoaneta Stefanova in a sideline of the Chebanenko Slav. Not only did Stefanova clearly not know the line but she also walked straight into the sharpest variation by rather naively playing 15...e5 rather than 15...Kh8 which was more restrained. It was all very gruesome after 17.Nxd5 and this win means a draw with black in game 4 will give Ushenina the title.

Oy!  So, is it all over now except for the shouting?  Will Ushenina play only for a draw tomorrow, knowing that's all she needs to secure the title for herself?  I'm wondering how Stefanova is going to respond to this do-or-go-home-with-less-$$$ situation. 

Before Game 3, Final.  Stefanova looks elegantly put-together -- love that faux fur shorty jacket/sweather she's
got on, and notice how color-coordinated her comfy low-heeled boots are with her slacks (NOT jeans).
She always looks serenely regal to me.  I love Ushenina's platinum blonde hair -- it suits her coloring to a T! 
She just looks like she's got a chip on her shoulder in this photograph.  Game face - yeah, she's got Game!
 

I'm also happy that Ushenina decided to retire her red sweater (how many times has she worn it during this championship, I wonder?), at least temporarily.  (Okay, I know you've all been noticing that too, but just didn't comment on it.  So, me bad!)  Today she wore a blue and white shirt.  Short sleeves in Siberia.  Rather reminds me of an NFL football player from the Packers playing at Legendary Lambeau Field in the play-offs in January -- when the windchill can drop well below zero and they pretend the cold doesn't bother them...

From the Official Website:

The current score is 2-1 in favor of the Ukrainian player.

In the third games of the Women’s World Championship final Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) and Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) played the Slav Defense. The Bulgarian went for the Chebanenko Variation (with 4…a6; also called the Chameleon Variation sometimes), which she didn’t use for a long time. Nevertheless, Ushenina was not caught by surprise. White played very well and got a small advantage. In an attempt to activate her pieces, Black carried out a pawn break in the center, which turned out very risky. White replied with an interesting tactical operation, trading two minor pieces for a rook and two pawns. Formally the material was still equal, however, White got a clear advantage: Black’s pieces were badly coordinated, and her king became weak.

Soon White advanced the passed pawn, and her position became overwhelming. Stefanova got into a time trouble and was unable to defend perfectly. Instead of seeking the vital counterplay on the kingside, she decided to play passively, which turned out to be a decisive mistake. Ushenina converted her advantage flawlessly, not giving her opponent any hope. Black resigned on the 37^th move.

By winning this game Anna Ushenina took the match lead – 2-1. The fourth game (and the last one with a classical time control) is scheduled on Friday, November 30^th. Antoaneta Stefanova plays White and needs a win to stay in the match.

Report from Chessbase, on Games 1 through 3.  Includes (at the end of the article) a board where you can play-through Game 3.

xxx

2012 FIDE WWCC: Game 2

Hola darlings! 

Another draw, Stefanova with white today.

Stefanova, Antoaneta

BUL

½

½

1

Score tied at 1/1 for Stefanova and Ushenina.  Report for Game 2 at the official website. 

So, it appears the ultimate strategy of each player is to go to the rapid play-off games.  I wonder what would have happened if Ushenina had pursued playing the original and complicated position she achieved by not following the known lines?  We'll never know.  Well, how can I complain about the lack of fighting chess when these two women are playing like typical male grandmasters?

Some coverage from other websites:

Chessvibes -- nice photographs and a good summary of action from R 1 through to the final two players.

Anna Ushenina.  Game for geeks only?
I don't think so, darlings!



At Chessbase, a fine summary of the semi-final action leading to the victories by Ushenina and Stefanova; always, of course, accompanied by fine photographs of some of the loveliest ladies playing pro chess these days. 

If you want insight from a former World Champion into the action from the beginning to the end who, herself, was also battling through the knock-out format, check out GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog. 

2012 FIDE WWCC: Game 1 Ushenina and Stefanova

Ushenina had white.

Name	FED	G1	G2	G3	G5	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 6 Match 01
Ushenina, Anna	UKR	½											½
Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	½											½

Report on Game 1 from the official website.

From official website report, above.

Game 2 tomorrow, Stefanova will have white.

2012 Women's World Chess Championship: Summary Thus Far

Will I live to see the day when the press in the USA covers chess like the Indians do?  Nah. 

From The Times of India:

World Women's Chess Championship enters final stage

PTI | Nov 26, 2012, 10.10 AM IST

KHANTY MANSIYSK: The Indian interest over after D Harika's ouster, the World Women's Chess Championship entered into its closing stage in which Ukraine's Anna Ushenina will take on Anotaneta Stefanova for the top prize.

The upsets continued as Ushenina made the finals at the expense of Ju Wenjun of China winning the first set of rapid tie-break games that concluded.

After drawing two back-to-back normal time control games rather quickly, Ushenina struck with her white pieces in the first game of rapid tiebreaker and then drew the next to make it to the finals of the $4,50,000 championship.

Stefanova will now fight it out with Ushenina for the ultimate crown in a four games match that commences tomorrow.

Stefanova had beaten Harika in the other semifinal that lasted just two games. Harika had lost the first and drawn the second to bow out of the championship with a bronze medal.

At the award ceremony Harika thanked everyone involved to help her get to the semifinal stage.

"I am very grateful for the support from my friends, parents, grandmother, my trainer, who teaches me since my childhood. We were in touch during the whole championship. Grandmaster Eesha Karavade sent me her opening analysis.

"Grandmaster Ganguly participated in one of my training sessions prior to the championship. Grandmaster Harikrishna also helped me to prepare for some games," said the semifinalist.

After the ouster of top-rated Indian Koneru Humpy as early as in round two, all eyes were on Harika as she was playing quite well in the gruelling schedule.

Harika thought she should have done better when asked about what she felt about her achievement.

"My friends have mixed opinions. Everyone is happy for me, but they are also a bit disappointed, because I did not advance to the final, which I feel was possible," said Harika.

Citing tiredness as the main reason, Harika insisted that she had not lost focus.

"Cannot say I lost my focus, I just felt a bit tired. Maybe this is why I lost the first game to Stefanova."

The championship now enters the final stage where there will be four games in all. In case of a tie, shorter games will be played to determine the champion who in 2013 will play a match with Yifan Hou of China.

Ushenina Through to 2012 WWCC Final!

Interesting!  The next challenger against GM Hou Yifan (current Women's World Chess Champion) in 2013 will be a European.  Yep, Ushenina knocked out Ju Wenjun in their play-off games today (Sunday):

Round 5 Match 02
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	½	½	1	½						2½
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	½	½	0	½						1

So, Ushenina will be meeting Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria starting Tuesday to determine who wins the title - or doesn't she?  I'm still now clear on how this works.  If either Ushenina or Stefanova prevails, is she -- or is she not -- the new reigning Women's World Chess Champion?  And if she is, then why does Hou Yifan get a free get at the can in 2013?  This system is a mess!

Official website.

I absolute LOVE this photograph from the official website:

The ladies shown are those who did not win their semi-final matches:  Ju Wenjun (left) and Harika Dronavalli (right).  Ju doesn't look too happy, does she, while Dronavalli appears gracious; indeed, in countless photographs I've seen of Dronavalli over the years, I've rarely seen her looking as unhappy as Ju! This is an awards-presentation ceremony, evidently.  One should appear gracious, no matter how disappointed one may be.  Here's a brief interview at the official website with Dronavalli after she won her bronze medal, the epitome of good manners!

Well, these ladies are going home, but they aren't going home empty handed!  In addition to winning what appear to be medals (around each of their necks) and -- are those fur trimmed - somethings?? -- and whatever is in the boxes, each one has a payday of $20,000 USD -- if FIDE ever wires out the money to the bank accounts the ladies were required to divulge information about in order to play in this event!  No certified or cashier's checks in Siberia, evidently.

Bon chance to Stefanova and Ushenina.  They'll be playing 4 games.

Stevanova Through to Final in 2012 FIDE WWCC!!!

Holy Hathor! Stevanova is just smoking hot hot hot right now.  She won her match against Harika Dronavalli 1.5 - 0.5 and will face either Anna Ushenina or Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Champion title.

Ushinina and Ju tied their match and so will be going to play-offs tomorrow!  What a way to spend a weekend, following this action!

Results Round 5, Game 2:

Name	G1	G2	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 5 Match 01
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	1	½								1½
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	0	½								½
Round 5 Match 02
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	½	½								1
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	½	½								1

Official website. 

The second games of the Women’s World Championship semifinals were played today in Khanty-Mansiysk
24.11.2012

Stefanova ascendant!

Harika Dronavalli (India) needed to win as White to tie the match score against Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria). In a slow maneuvering game the Indian advanced her pawns on the queenside, and Stefanova pushed on the kingside. As the game got more open, Black sacrificed a piece for White’s three central pawns and obtained a big advantage. However, Stefanova did not try to win the game outright and just forced a draw by repetition, securing the match victory. Now the former World Champion will have a chance to win her second title.

At the risk of jinxing her for tomorrow's play-off, Ushenina looks ready to rumble!  Killer eyes...
 

Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) and Ju Wenjun (China) agreed to an early draw. The Chinese was unable to get an opening advantage with White and offered a draw on the 18^th move. Tomorrow, November 25^th, the tie-break will determine the second participant of the final match. It will be the fifth tie-break at this championship for Ju Wenjun, and the second one for Ushenina.

2012 FIDE WWCC: Harika Storms Into Semi-Final

From The Times of India

Harika storms into semifinal of World Women Chess Championship

PTI Nov 22, 2012, 09.34PM IST

KHANTY MANSIYSK (Russia): Grandmaster D Harika came up with a spectacular performance in the tiebreak games to beat Zhao Xue of China and enter the last four stage of the World Women Chess Championship.

The Indian set the records right after a real scare in the second game on yesterday and displayed top form to win the first rapid game and then drawing the second easily as white.

The victory means Harika will not only remain in the championship but will also have a fair chance of having a shy at the title with just two matches to go in the premier women event.

In the next round now, Harika will meet Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria who was world champion in 2004.

Chinese Ju Wenjun defeated compatriot Hunag Qian, while Stefanova accounted for Marie Sebag of France in the other tiebreak matches.

In the other semifinal, Wenjun will meet Anna Ushenina of Ukraine who had won in straight games against Nadezhda Kosintseva of Russia.

Harika won with black in the first rapid game that proved to be the decisive factor in the match. Zhao Xue was the last fancied player remaining and she was knocked out in great style.

Taking a cue from her last game, Harika went for something she knows best instead of speculating. The King's Indian turned out to be a good choice as Zhao Xue could not get favourable complexities she was hoping for.

The middle game had all virtues of a typical King's Indian wherein black always had counter play against white's initiative.

Harika obtained a dangerous passed pawn in the center as the game progressed and took it to the seventh rank after Zhao blundered. The game lasted 33 moves.

In the return game, Harika faced the Hedgehog structure with white pieces and got a winning position in quick time. However, she played it safe for a long time and obtained the required draw after 85 moves.

Stefanova beat Marie Sebag 2-0 in rapid games, while Wenjun drew both rapid games but won the ten-minute blitz by 1.5-0.5 against Huang Qian to remain in hunt.

Results quarterfinals: Huang Qian (Chn) lost to Ju Wenjun (Chn) 1-1, 1-1, 1.5-0.5; D Harika (Ind) beat Zhao Xue (Chn) 1-1, 1.5-0.5; Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) beat marie Sebag (Fra) 1-1, 2-0; Anna Ushenina (Ukr) beat Nadezhda Kosintseva (Rus) 1.5-0.5.

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

It is SEMI FINALS time, and the action is fast and furious.  Without further ado, here are the results, darlings:

Round 5 Match 01
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	1									1
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	0									0
Round 5 Match 02
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	½									0.5
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	½									0.5

Can Stefanova win the title again?  The 33 year old was crowned the Women's Champion in 2004 and held the title until 2006.  At that time, I considered her in her peak form.  Her performances since then have been, for the most part, steady but not spectacular; however, her peak ELO rating of 2560 was achieved in May, 2010 so --. She is one of the pros who makes a living playing the circuit in Europe as well as in the European, EU and various women's and team championships, sometimes performing well enough to finish in the money.  She has made some Grand Prix appearances and also regularly plays on teams (such as the .  Stefanova is currently ranked 19th on the Top 100 Women list, with an ELO of 2491, certainly respectable in terms of her peers.  But, check this out:

2	Koneru, Humpy	g	IND	2610	7	1987
3	Hou, Yifan	g	CHN	2606	6	1994
4	Muzychuk, Anna	g	SLO	2586	6	1990
5	Zhao, Xue	g	CHN	2565	4	1985
6	Dzagnidze, Nana	g	GEO	2555	0	1987
7	Lahno, Kateryna	g	UKR	2553	15	1989
8	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	g	RUS	2539	0	1985
9	Cmilyte, Viktorija	g	LTU	2524	6	1983
10	Sebag, Marie	g	FRA	2521	0	1986
11	Gunina, Valentina	m	RUS	2517	10	1989
12	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2516	6	1963
13	Kosintseva, Tatiana	g	RUS	2515	0	1986
14	Harika, Dronavalli	g	IND	2512	7	1991
15	Khotenashvili, Bela	m	GEO	2504	0	1988
16	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	g	RUS	2501	6	1984
17	Ju, Wenjun	wg	CHN	2501	4	1991
18	Ruan, Lufei	wg	CHN	2501	0	1987
19	Stefanova, Antoaneta	g	BUL	2491	5	1979

Nearly all of the players ranked above Stefanova on the Top 100 Women list were also playing in the FIDE 2012 WWCC - and all have been eliminated except for Harika Dronavalli (14th) and Ju Wenjun (17th)! Anna Ushenina is ranked 38th with an ELO of 2452!  I'm pretty sure that no one expected Stefanova, or the other semi-finalists for that matter, to have come this far, including me!  So, YOU GO, GIRLS! 

Obviously, Harika Dronavalli has her back against the chessly wall, and MUST win tomorrow in order to force a play-off.  Holy Hathor!  I'm not even going to venture an opinion here, I've been so wrong about SO many things in the course of this Championship, LOL!  So, I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy, darlings, and watch in amazement at whatever happens.

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone.  Only Americans celebrate this iconic holiday on this particular day (the 4th Thursday in November), but there are similar holidays celebrated throughout the world, for the same reasons.  It is a combination of thanksgiving and harvest festival, a day of reflection and introspection, but also a day of overindulging in food and drink, watching NFL football on television practically non-stop until later tonight when the 7 p.m. game at last wraps up, and celebrating in one's own particular way.

About 30 minutes ago, I visited the official website to see if I could pick up information on the three different play-offs taking place in Kamksy Mansky, Russia (where?)  Okay, it's actually Khanty Masisky, no, that's not right either...  It actually Khanty Mansiysk - or something like that.  Anyway, my goal was to post a news flash here whilst in the midst of my Thanksgiving Day celebrations.

So, I had discerned that Stefanova had KNOCKED OUT GM Marie Sebag, and that one of the Chinese players had probably knocked out a different Chinese player, but it was basically undecipherable to me what the heck was actually going on - couldn't figure out how to register (not that I wanted to!), or to navigate the games properly, well, par for the course for moi. 

The Week in Chess to the rescue.  Here are the results from the Round 4 playoffs:

Name	G1	G2	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 4 Match 01
Sebag, Marie (FRA)	1	0	0	0						1
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	0	1	1	1						3
Round 4 Match 02
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	½	½	½	½	½	1				3½
Huang, Qian (CHN)	½	½	½	½	½	0				2½
Round 4 Match 03
Kosintseva, Nadezhda (RUS)	½	0								½
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	½	1								1½
Round 4 Match 04
Zhao, Xue (CHN)	½	½	0	½						1½
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	½	½	1	½						2½

Players advancing from the play-offs to Round 5:  Antoaneta Stefanova, Ju Wenjun, and Harika Dronavalli.  Anna Ushenina had previously secured a spot for herself in the semi-final during regular play and did not have to go through a play-off.

I have to say, this is about an as unlikely group of potential female world chess champions as I could have imagined - and did not!  Holy Hathor! 

I'm just going to sit back and be entertained over the next several days, beginning with Round 5, whenever that is.  Don't the players EVER get a break in this event?  Geez! 

Chessbase Reports on WWCC Round 4

Women’s World Championship – Ushenina in the semis

21.11.2012– IM Anna Ushenina from Ukraine faced a formidable opponent in round four of this knock-out event: Russian GM Nadezhda Kosintseva, rated close to 90 points above her. In the first game Anna was on verge of defeat but managed to save the game, in the second she won nicely with a pawn sacrifice. Stefanova beat Sebag to equalise their match. There will be three tiebreak encounters on Thursday.

[Note:  You can download PGN and also play through some of the games of the final eight at Chessbase.  This is an excerpt of the full article.]

Anna Ushenina

The first game between Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia) and Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) was extremely nervous and full of action. The players castled to the opposite sides of the board and began preparing for mutual attacks.

Kosintseva, Nadezhda–Ushenina, Anna½–½B94WWCC 201241.3Khanty-Mansiysk20.11.2012

 

1.e4c5
2.f3d6
3.d4cxd4
4.xd4f6
5.c3a6
6.g5bd7
7.e2h68
.h4g6
9.0-0-0e5
10.b3e7
11.f3b5
12.a3c7
13.b1f8
14.g4b7
15.f2g7
16.h4ab8
17.e3b6
18.c1c4
19.d3a8
20.g1b4
21.axb4b6
22.g2xb4
23.g5hxg52
4.hxg5d7
25.d1a3+
26.bxa3xc32
7.b2c7
28.c4c6
29.f4b7
30.f2b6
31.xa6xa6
32.xa6a4
33.c4xb2
34.xb2exf4
35.xf4 f6??Ushinina: "I had spent too much time in the middlegame, and made a couple of serious mistakes under time pressure, when all I had to do was calculating a couple of simple lines." 35...e8for instance would have kept Black on the offensive. 36.a2??A missed chance. "When I played 35...f6, Nadezhda began to think, and I instantly noticed that she can take on f6 twice. However, she rejected this move."
36.gxf6+xf6+
37.xf6!xf6
38.xd6+36...hf8White still has the advantage, but is now unable to turn it into a full point. 37.d4d738.e6a4
39.df1be840.d5d741.e6a442.b3d743.e6and draw by repetition. " In the final position Nadezhda still had a big advantage and could torture be for a long time," said Anna Ushinina. ½–½

In the second game Anna sacrificed a pawn and, after Nadezhda some imprecise moves by her opponent won it back with a decisive advantage. For the first time in her life the 27-year-old Ukrainian IM has advanced to the semifinals of such an event.

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

Round 4, Game 2 results:

Name	G1	G2	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 4 Match 01
Sebag, Marie (FRA)	1	0								1
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	0	1								1
Round 4 Match 02
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	½	½								1
Huang, Qian (CHN)	½	½								1
Round 4 Match 03
Kosintseva, Nadezhda (RUS)	½	0								0.5
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	½	1								1.5
Round 4 Match 04
Zhao, Xue (CHN)	½	½								1
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	½	½								1

Antoaneta Stefanova

Three of the four pairings going to the play-offs tomorrow, wow!  Ushenina, whose play has been uneven the past few years, knocked out Nadezhda Kosintseva -- so Russia has NO PLAYERS LEFT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.  I haven't looked back at the history of the knock-out events, but I'm thinking that's unprecedented at the stage of the quarter-finals. 

With three players still in it, the odds favor a Chinese champion.  But I really have no clue what may happen.  This championship has had totally unexpected results but I am also happy to see the names of players other than the favorites time after time, event after event!  I am a fan of Marie Sebag, who earned her final GM norm a few years ago playing in the European Chess Championship (Open).  Dronavalli is another player I admire because, like Sebag, she also plays in Opens on a frequent basis.  Her chess progress had seemed to stall a bit the last few years, but something sure lit a fire under here, and I'm glad to see her advance this far.  Perhaps that spark will burn even brighter in the coming years.

We'll see.  Tomorrow four players will go home, and only four will remain.  Woo woo!

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

As always, India is in the limelight with providing coverage of its chessplayers.  I can just feel the love of a billion people rooting for their "home team" players!  This is Round 4, Game 1 news.  We are now down to 8 players.  Eight players, out of 64 of the world's top female players (other than GM Judit Polgar).

Harika draws with Zhao Xue in World Women's Chess Championship

The writer has posted comments on this articlePTI | Nov 20, 2012, 09.58 PM IST

KHANTY MANSIYSK (Russia): Grandmaster D Harika started her quarterfinal campaign with an easy draw with fourth seed Zhao Xue of China in the first game of the two-game mini-match that concluded in the World Women's Chess Championship.

After drawing with black, Harika holds a little edge going in to the second game in the $450000 prize money championship as she will play with white pieces in the return game. The Indian has succeeded in the championship thus far without losing a single game.

French Marie Sebag drew the first blood in the first game against former champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria and took an early lead. The Bulgarian will now have to score a victory in the next game to stay in the match.

The other two matches of the quarters were drawn. The championship that started with 64 players, is now down to eight. There are two games under normal time control till the final and in the event of a tied score, games of shorter duration are played to determine the winner.

Harika went for the Queen's gambit, declined as black and found out soon that the Chinese was not expecting this opening. After an early trade of minor pieces, Harika went for the thematic central break through and succeeded in reaching a level endgame.

Zhao Xue wanted to push for victory and in her effort she gave Harika a small chance that the Indian failed to notice with her clock ticking away. It was on move 30 that Harika missed what might have been a nagging advantage. The game was drawn five moves later.

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

Round 4, Game 1 results!

Name	G1	G2	R1	R2	r3	r4	B1	B2	SD	Tot
Round 4 Match 01
Sebag, Marie (FRA)	1									1
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	0									0
Round 4 Match 02
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	½									0.5
Huang, Qian (CHN)	½									0.5
Round 4 Match 03
Kosintseva, Nadezhda (RUS)	½									0.5
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	½									0.5
Round 4 Match 04
Zhao, Xue (CHN)	½									0.5
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	½									0.5

Women's Top Seeds Exited Early - Who Will Win?

From The New York Times

Top Seeds Make Early Exits at Women’s Title Event

By DYLAN LOEB McCLAIN

Published: November 17, 2012

 

There will soon be a new women’s world champion. And after an incredible series of upsets on Thursday and Friday in the second round of the Women’s World Championship tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, it will not be one of the favorites.

 

Hou Yifan of China, a grandmaster who is ranked No. 3 in the world among women, had held the title since 2010. She was eliminated on Friday by Monika Socko, a Polish grandmaster who is ranked 39 spots behind her.

      

Hou’s challenger in last year’s title match, Humpy Koneru of India, who is No. 2, also lost, to Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine. Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia, No. 4, fell to Anna Ushenina, another Ukrainian. But the top Ukrainian grandmaster, Kateryna Lahno, No. 7, lost to Lela Javakhishvili of Georgia.

The highest-ranked remaining players are Zhao Xue of China, No. 5, and Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia, No. 6.

      

The startling series of upsets was in stark contrast to Round 1, when there was only one.

      

In an effort to bring in more women from countries that are not usually represented at such tournaments, the World Chess Federation allocated spots based on regional competitions. Some of the women who qualified were not close to being among the elite. In the first round, the highest seeds were pitted against the lowest ones, most of whom ended up losing badly.

      

Hou’s first opponent was S. D. Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka, who is ranked No. 3,174 among active women players. She was no match for the defending champion. Koneru also had little trouble dispatching Denise Frick of South Africa (No. 2,671).

      

The lack of early tests might have contributed to the poor performances of the top seeds in the second round as their opponents were in better form from their own first-round matches. In Hou’s match against Socko, she won the first game and only had to draw the second to advance. But, as sometimes happens in such situations, she was too cautious.

      

Since Socko needed to win the second regulation game, she played the Sicilian Defense, which offers Black the best chance for a counterattack against 1 e4.

      

Hou’s strategy of playing for a draw was evident early when she played 4 Qd4 instead of 4 Nd4, which is the more aggressive move.

      

Hou’s 7 Qd2 was an odd retreat for her queen; almost any other move would have been better. Her decision to fianchetto her bishop by playing 8 b3 was also peculiar. Clearly, she just wanted to trade dark-squared bishops, but Socko easily sidestepped the maneuver with 10 ... Nf6.

      

Hou also should not have postponed castling, and she made a bad decision by exchanging her light-squared bishop for Socko’s knight. Still, despite those missteps, she was fine until 21 Rc7. It was essential for her to play 21 f4 to limit the range of Socko’s dark-squared bishop.

      

Socko played well from then on. One of her nicest moves was 24 ... d4. Hou did not play 25 Bd4 because she would have lost a piece after 25 ... Bd4 26 Qd4 Ba4, when she could not recapture the bishop without being checkmated.

      

Hou resigned after 33 ... Qd4 because she would have faced checkmate in a few moves.

      

Though Hou is out of the tournament, she has the consolation of knowing that she can regain the title next year because, as the winner of the recently completed Grand Prix, she is already the designated challenger for a title match. The date and location of that match have not yet been announced.       

A version of this article appeared in print on November 18, 2012, on page A25 of the New York edition with the headline: Top Seeds Make Early Exits At Women’s Title Event.

Will Dronavilli Prevail?

From The Times of India

D Harika to meet Zhao Xue in quarterfinals of World Women's Chess Championship

The writer has posted comments on this articlePTI | Nov 20, 2012, 01.02 AM IST

KHANTY MANSIYSK (RUSSIA): Grandmaster D Harika will have to lock horns with Zhao Xue of China in the quarterfinals of the World Women's Chess Championship now underway.

Having reached the last eighth stage, Harika meets the biggest challenge in the championship and if she wins this match she can prove to be a very tough competitor for the other opponents.

The match against Xue will test her real skills as the Chinese is also the highest rated player remaining in the championship.

Harika spent the day preparing against Zhao Xue and looked determined while the tiebreaker of the third round was played in the main hall. This is already the second time in a row that the Indian has reached the quarterfinal stage. In 2010 she had lost to Ruofan Li of China.

The heat rose on the chess board even as the mercury plummeted to minus 17 degrees celsius in the Ugra region. The most intense battle was fought by the Kosintseva sisters who were pitted against each other in the third round match.
 
After drawing two games under normal time control both Nadezhda and Tatiana shared a victory each in the rapid games. In the subsequent ten-minute tiebreaker, Nadezhda won from a difficult position in the middle game and then held on to win the match.

In other tiebreak matches, it was China all the way as Ju Wenjun ousted Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine and Huang Qian showed Irina Krush the exit door in the rapid games itself.

The USD 450000 Championship is now down to eight players from 64 in the first round. The winner here will get to play a match with Yifan Hou of China in 2013 to decide the next world champion.

Big names of the game have exited the championship already. The top three seeds -- Koneru Humpya, Yifan Hou and Anna Muzychuk -- packed their bags after the second round and fifth seed Kateryna Lahno faced a similar situation too.

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

Mark Crowther (The Week in Chess) summed things up succinctly:  Only three of the top 8 players who started are left and only 50% of the players expected to reach round 3 did so. We therefore have an unusual and unexpected mix of players.  American Irina Krush was eliminated after she couldn't equalize in her 4th play-off game.

Results R3 play-offs Game 2:

Round 3 Match 01
Socko, Monika (POL)	0	0								0
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	1	1								2
Round 3 Match 02
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	1	0	1	½						2½
Zhukova, Natalia (UKR)	0	1	0	½						1½
Round 3 Match 03
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	1	½								1½
Pogonina, Natalija (RUS)	0	½								½
Round 3 Match 04
Muzychuk, Mariya (UKR)	½	0								½
Zhao, Xue (CHN)	½	1								1½
Round 3 Match 05
Javakhishvili, Lela (GEO)	½	0								½
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	½	1								1½
Round 3 Match 06
Kosintseva, Tatiana (RUS)	½	½	0	1	0	½				2½
Kosintseva, Nadezhda (RUS)	½	½	1	0	1	½				3½
Round 3 Match 07
Huang, Qian (CHN)	0	1	1	½						2½
Krush, Irina (USA)	1	0	0	½						1½
Round 3 Match 08
Galliamova, Alisa (RUS)	0	0								0
Sebag, Marie (FRA)	1	1								2

2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship

Results from R3, Game 2.  Players moving to the next round in bold.  American players in red.  So, GM Monika  Socko, who knocked GM Hou Yifan out of the championship is, in turn, knocked out by fellow veteran player Antoaneta Stefanova!

Yet another play-off looms for IM Irina Krush.

FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2012 (Khanty-Mansiysk RUS) Round 3 17th-19th Nov 2012
Round 3 Match 01
Socko, Monika (POL)	0	0								0
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL)	1	1								2
Round 3 Match 02
Ju, Wenjun (CHN)	1	0								1
Zhukova, Natalia (UKR)	0	1								1
Round 3 Match 03
Ushenina, Anna (UKR)	1	½								1.5
Pogonina, Natalija (RUS)	0	½								0.5
Round 3 Match 04
Muzychuk, Mariya (UKR)	½	0								0.5
Zhao, Xue (CHN)	½	1								1.5
Round 3 Match 05
Javakhishvili, Lela (GEO)	½	0								0.5
Harika, Dronavalli (IND)	½	1								1.5
Round 3 Match 06
Kosintseva, Tatiana (RUS)	½	½								1
Kosintseva, Nadezhda (RUS)	½	½								1
Round 3 Match 07
Huang, Qian (CHN)	0	1								1
Krush, Irina (USA)	1	0								1
Round 3 Match 08
Galliamova, Alisa (RUS)	0	0								0
Sebag, Marie (FRA)	1	1								2