Xu Yuhua of China won the Women's World Chess Championship on
Saturday after defeating Alisa Galliamova of Russia in
Ekaterinburg, Russia.
This made Xu the eleventh champion since Vera Menchik first won
the title in 1927. Xu became the third player from China to receive
the title, after Xie Jun and Zhu Chen.
The knockout event had 64 participants, with reigning world
champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria defending her title.
After losing her first game and drawing the second, Galliamova
started well in the third game.
However with move 40 and the first time control looming she
started to slip and let Xu take the initiative.
Then, instead of pragmatically playing for a draw, the Russian
sought to retain her chances in a counterattack, which failed. Xu
won the point and with it the four-game match.
(Shenzhen Daily March 27, 2006)
