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Humpy beats Hou Yifan and advances to the Finals

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/07/2020

Humpy beat the former Women's World Champion and Women's World no.1 Hou Yifan by 6-5 in the Semi-Finals of FIDE chess.com Women's Speed Chess Championship leg four. She will now face another former Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in the Finals which will take place tomorrow at 6 p.m. IST in the evening. Humpy started the Semi-Final with a win, then she lost the next two games and immediately struck back with two consecutive wins. She was down by 4-5 heading into the last two Bullet games. She won them both and the match too with 6-5 as the final score. Who do you think will win the final tomorrow? Humpy or Kosteniuk? Photo: FIDE

Humpy will face Kosteniuk in the Finals

The reigning Women's World Rapid Champion Humpy started her Semi-Final with a win and then suffered two consecutive losses. She immediately struck back with two consecutive wins and took back her lead by 3-2. After the first bullet game, Humpy was down by 4-5, but then she won the next two games and won the match by 6-5. She will face the former Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in the Finals.

It's Humpy vs. Kosteniuk in the Finals | Photo: FIDE

Humpy starts with a win

Unlike the Quarter-Finals and Round of 16, Humpy made a winning start and announced her intentions early in the day. In the first game, Humpy capitalized on her opponent Hou Yifan's mistake and converted it into a win with ease.

Hou Yifan - Humpy, Game 1

Position after 31.b3

Find out why 31.b3 is a positional mistake.

Humpy strikes back

After suffering two consecutive brutal losses, Humpy struck back immediately in Game 4 and 5.

Humpy - Hou Yifan, Game 4

Position after 49...Qb7+

Find out how white should continue after 49...Qb7+

Hou Yifan again went for Bishop's Opening and Humpy opted for the same reply. The result was same as the first game, in Humpy's favor.

Hou Yifan - Humpy, Game 5

Position after 16.h3

Find out the best continuation for black after 16.h3

Humpy gets back the lead

In the last 3+1 game, Humpy scored a victory by capitalizing on her opponent's mistake in the Queen ending to take the lead 4-3.

Hou Yifan - Humpy, Game 7

Position after 29.Qg4+

Find out why 29.Qg4+ is a mistake and what white should have played instead.

Blitzkrieg win

After losing the first two Bullet (1+1) games anyone would get rattled, but Humpy is not just anyone. She is the reigning Women's World Rapid Champion, she can handle discombobulation more than anyone.

Humpy - Hou Yifan, Game 10

Position after 21...Re5

Find out the winning continuation for white after 21...Re5

A Photo finish

Generally we witness a photo finish in outdoor sports but it can occur in chess as Humpy made such a beautiful finish in the last Bullet game of the Semi-Final match against Hou Yifan.

Hou Yifan - Humpy, Game 11

Position after 40.Qxa5

Find out the best combination for black after 40.Qxa5

Replay all Humpy-Hou Yifan games in Semi-Finals

Semi-Final Results

Humpy will face Kosteniuk in the Finals | Source: chess.com

Prizes

GP Points and Prizes | Source: chess.com

GP Players

Women's Speed Chess Championship has nine seeded players, among them reigning Women's World Rapid Champion GM Koneru Humpy is there | Source: chess.com

Each leg is a 16-player knockout event and will last five days (including one rest day after the semi-finals). The dates are June 24-28th, July 1-5th, July 8-12th and July 15-19th, with games starting at 14:30 CET (6 p.m. IST)

GP Standings

Each player will play three out of the four legs in the Grand Prix | Source: chess.com

Replay the livestream

Live commentary by GM Robert Hess and WFM Alexandra Botez | Video: FIDE

Links

FIDE

chess.com


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