Kosteniuk Crowned World Champion

By Arvind Aaron

Aleksandra Kosteniuk of Russia was crowned World Women's Champion on Sep 17 when she drew the final classical chess game against Hou Yifan of China to win on net score of 2.5-1.5.

The $450,000 World Women's Championship came to a close at Nalchik with a host player winning the title. Kostrniuk, 24, won the first game and drew the remaining three games for her first world title.

Kosteniuk was less efficient and could have scored more points in the four game finals. In the final game, she needed a draw and took the draw with a perpetual check. Instead, she should grab a rook with her queen and have won more comfortably at 3-1.

Eager to win the crown and the $60,000, Kosteniuk took the draw with the white pieces. She had a win in the opener with the black pieces when she went for a deep combination. Hou Yifan, 14, who played well and came close to breaking Maya Chiburdanidze's world record of winning the title at 16 now has to wait for the next edition.

Four Indians played in this contest. Koneru Humpy lost in the semifinals, Dronavalli Harika lost in round three while Tania Sachdev and Nisha Mohota went in round one itself.

Home                                                 Published on 20^th September, 2008