Hou Yifan Takes Lead
By Arvind Aaron

Chinese 14-year old star player Hou Fifan pinned a knight to take the winning advantage and hand Koneru Humpy her first defeat in the first game of the semi-finals of the World Women's Chess Championship at Nalchik in Russia on Sep 10, 2008.

Humpy is in a must-win situation of the semi-final. Humpy had the advantage of playing with the white pieces in the reverse game on Thursday.

Humpy selected the Breyer variation of the Ruy Lopez with the black pieces against Yifan. Humpy went for an advanced white pawn on the queen rook file and that allowed white to build a counterplay. The exchange of queens left black in danger and Humpy lost a knight in a pin. The Chinese girl never let go the advantage. Humpy lost her first game of the event in 55 moves.

That left, Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia the only undefeated player as she took a 1-0 lead against Pia Cramling of Sweden. India hopes Humpy will come back on Thursday to push the match into tie-break.