Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Hou Yifan defeats Judit Polgar

The 17-year old Hou Yifan, the reigning Women's World Chess Champion has today scored an historic victory in the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival against the strongest female player of all time, Judit Polgar.

The game looked fairly even for a long time, but gradually the Chinese girl took control. Under increasing pressure the Hungarian superstar lost first one pawn, and then another. Both players have been in great form in this event, but with this victory, sure to go all around the world, Hou Yifan has demonstrated a maturity beyond her years.

This fine win (in just over four and a half hours) categorically means that this young rising star, still at the start of her career, has overturned the women's game. Replay the game here.

"Hou Yifan is now equal first in the race for the top female award of £10,000 in the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Masters. But no doubt her eyes will also be focused on the overall top prize of £20,000 – after today's game, she must feel that her chances are as good as anyone's, male or female," said tournament director Stuart Conquest.

2 comments:

DXB said...

Well done, Yifan! The ELO gap between Yifan and Judit is not at all big. Yifan's win should not be seen as a big surprise - she has had everything to challenge anyone over 2700+.

Peter Bloch said...

...and there were eleven of them at Gibraltar or above 2700! It'll be Nigel Short next, just you watch!
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