Day 4 - Women Blitz Event


	Pairings Rapid Men Rapid Women Blitz Men Blitz Women Basque Men Basque Women Standings Rapid Men Women Blitz Men Women Basque Men Women Cross Tables Rapid Men Rapid Women Blitz Men Blitz Women Basque Men Basque Women Games (PGN) Rapid Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Blitz Basque Men Women ELO Rapid Men Rapid Women Blitz Men Blitz Women

Day 2 of the womens blitz event, saw the reigning world champion, Hou Yifan break away from the field of competitors, to take a dominating lead, a full 2 point ahead of her closest rivals. Despite still a teenager, she
will be 20 in February, Hou is a 3-time World Champion and today very much demonstrated why. After day 1
the tournament was lead by the gold medallist from the rapid tournament, Valentina Gunina, but in their direct encounter in round 15, the tables where turned:

Hou Yifan. China - Valentina Gunina. Russia

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0–0–0 Be7 13.Kb1 0–0 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Rfd8 18.Rhe1 c5 19.c4 Qd6 20.g4 Quite extraordinarily the 2 players had excatly the same position in the rapid game, only 2 days before! Also there, they where fighthing for gold, and Gunina held the balance after 20...Nd7 21 Ba5 b6 22 Qf3 Bf6! With an equal position, but probably afraid of a Chinese deviation, she herself decides to deviate. 20...cxd4 21.g5 hxg5 22.Bxg5 Nd7 23.Nxf7!

Hou 1

This sacrifice draws out the black king a litte, but further will follow! 23...Kxf7 24.Rxd4!!

Hou 2

Another impressive tactic, exploiting that the Black queen cannot capture the offered rook, as after 24...Qxd4 25 Qxe6+ black is soon mated, So Gunina defends more solidly with: 24...Qb6 25.Bxe7 Kxe7 26.Qg4 Rg8 27.Rde4 e5 28.Rxe5+!!

Hou 3

A third sacrifice! And this time really breaking through to the black king. Black will indeed be a full rook up, but her king is caught in a mating net. 28...Nxe5 29.Rxe5+ Kd8 30.Rd5+ Kc7 31.Qf4+ Kc8 32.Qf7 Rd8 33.Qf5+ Kb8 34.Qe5+ Kc8 35.Rc5+ Qxc5 As 35...Kd7 36 36 Qxg7+ Kd6 37 Qd4+ Ke7 37 Re5+ also eventually would lead to black sacrificing her queen to avoid mate, Gunina give away her Queen immediately, but now Hou is just technically winning, and converts in good style. 36.Qxc5+ Kd7 37.Qd4+ Kc6 38.Qxg7 Rd1+ 39.Kc2 Rad8 40.Qg6+ Kc7 41.Qg3+ Kb6 42.Qe3+ Ka6 43.h6 R1d4 44.Kc3 Rh4 45.Qg5 Rh3+ 46.Kc2 Rd6 47.Qb5 mate!

A very important win for Hou Yifan, overtaking her closest rival in the standings. With 20 of 30 rounds played of the Womens blitz tournament, the top standings are as follows:

Hou Yifan 16 points

Valentina Gunina 14 pts

Anna Muzychuk 13 pts

Its a very comfortable lead for the Chinese World Champion, but round 30, the tournaments last, do se the 2 leaders face each other again, and we could be in for a thriller finish tomorrow!