So, it's Hou Yifan (CHI - title holder) vs. Humpy Koneru (IND - challenger)

Caught me by surprise to be honest
Raises two questions though:
1) Where is J. Polgar ? (Seriously, have no idea why she isn't playing. Didn't she participate in the "candidate matches" or what's up ?)
2) Why is it so hard to setup a videostream with English commentary?
I don't get it. Only tourneys that managed to do that were last years London and the recent FIDE World Cup. I mean, come on ...it isn't that hard !
I can't even take an informed guess in which language this stream is being commented because sound qual. is so low [/rant]

Anyway, hope for some fun games

http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com/template. ... tongue=ENG

Judy has never played in female only events on principle. She is too strong for it to be a contest, so why bother?

Ok sort of expected that but wasn't sure if that is the case.
I know that she competes with the men but wasn't sure whether she stays away from female only stuff on principle or "missed" it.
Just wondered as I also consider her by far the best woman and was surprised.

Ty ^^

If Judit Polgar showed up, everyone else would go home !
SIMPLE,
Master Greg

She would have had to play the Grand Prix series too to qualify.

I'm hoping for some exciting games. Yesterday was a bit weird. It's like nothing ever happened in that game.

Often in these things the first game is just a test where the players sound each other out. Think of it like dipping your toe in the bath water. Today will be bloody.

Or maybe there will be a Petrov

Was not a bad game though.

In both games Humpy has produced a big novelty. The Petrov game result was pretty much decided at home in India. She needs to continue pulling out these joker card moves to balance out her famous weak nerves.

I was really impressed with a4N in the first game. Not sure about Qe8 today. I was not too impressed with the idea, but fear of computer analysis, pretty much forced the queen swop from a white perspective. I doubt Qe8 will be repeated, but I've had a lot of practice at being wrong in this life and managed to fine tune it into an art form, so you never know.

Hou retains her title.

Surprisingly one-sided.