Ushenina defeated Ju Wenjun in the semi by the score of 2.5 – 1.5 (1-1, 1.5-0.5) to advance to the final to face former Women’s World Champion Stefanova. Who is favorite to win?
| Who will win the 2012 Women’s World Championship in Khanty Mansiysk? | |
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Of course Kosteniuk can beat both of them easily. She’s the best that ever played the game.
Both can win….good luck to each of them. Though I’m pretty sure it’s obvious Mrs Yifan was ill served by this ridiculous format. Still…she’ll get the match next year….But it’s an assbackwards way of doing things if you ask me. Good luck to both young ladies…who have shown Iron nerves and great playing.
looks like stefenova had forgotten to pack her cheap lipstick which she used to apply heavily with a paintbrush.. that would have scared her opponents
Honestly I have lost interest in the competition. But Stefanova, I guess.
Ju Wenjun lost her way in a won position due to time constraints,but I admit not wanting to witness an all chinese affair next year. Wenjun vs Yifan – how interesting would that be for most of us?. Now, a great match up next year – East vs West. Of course a well prepared Yifan will still be the favourite.
Hopefully Anna “no sponsors and no coaches” will beat Eti “I don’t give a damn for the press” + Silvio Danailov team single-handed and put the crown on her beautiful and brainy head
I like anyone with an April 19th birthday! Antoaneta Stefanova will regain the crown. Wasn’t their another Women’s World Champion with that birthday?
Anna will win as she has momentum going forward and also being an underdog.
The winner will have plenty of money (not enough compared to men champion) to buy shoes and handbags!!
The winner will have Hou Yifan next year to battle for the honor,this I think where most chess fans consider it to be the “right” format.
Good luck girls!
Stefanova plays superb chess this tournament, so she deserves to get back to #1 and challenge H. Yifan next year.
If Stefanova wins, Hou Yifan has to right to challenge her. Not challenge Yifan as stated by Anonymou Sunday, November 25, 2012 4:55:00 PM CST.
The winner of next match up in 2013 will “legitimized” the women world title.
But Hou Yifan had already stated that whatever format is played she will accept the challenge. In 2010 she nearly lost to Zu Chen (earlier round) and Ruan Lufei in the final.
Interestingly, this time in the semi final winners were rated lower. So it seems Anna is going to be the 2012 world women champion!
In four games format final Anna has no chance! Stefanova will eat her for breakfast. And I’m not sure that next year Hou will manage easy winn over Stefanova. All here underrate tallent and huge experience of bulgarian chess gramdmaster.
@Anonimous Sunday, November 25, 2012 7:45:00 AM CST.
Where is Kosteniuk by the way?
When Stefanova became grandmaster Kosteniuk steel studied movements of chess pieces. ha-ha-ha!
red paint and ungromed hair – stefenova will try these tactics away from board..
I think the format is okay. Maybe luck is involved in a 2 games-match, but it is never boring. And very purist, too, one white, one black. It is so lively to see so many contenders ! A title has a different meaning that springs from such a mass event. First of all, let’s hope this week brings 4 beautiful games, so that even the runner-up can be happy. (-By the way, Alexander Khalifman does an amazing job on the English live commentary, often joined by Anna Burtasova).
On the contrary to Anonymous 2:56:00 I think the longer format favours Anna. She has been rock-solid the whole tourney and even longer – no loss since the Olympiad (about 30 games) and Etti is a streaky player with frequent ups and downs. So Anna just has to wait patiently her chances that will undoubtedly appear in so many games and take the advantage. Even their history is in Anna’s favour – 1 win and 2 draws (if chessgames is complete)Etti will have a stong team supporting her but still she will be alone on the board and there Anna was the most constant and convincing player in this tourney beating much stronger players and would be the most desrving winner.
To Anonimous November 26, 2012 9:05:00 AM CST.
May be Anna no loss since Olympiad, but here she lost totaly in semifinal second tiebreak. Stefanova is not Wenjun Ju and will not miss chances like that. And if Anna just wait patiently her chances become even lower because Stefanova will not just wait. And I for a long time have not seen her so ambicious to play. And believe me when she want to play in her best even Ifan or Koneru are not problem for her. (And chessgames.com is not complete;))
To Anonimous November 26, 2012 3:34:00 PM CST
Yeah, Stefanova never misses. Her games vs Sebag only were won and lost about dozen times. And Anna will not just wait, she will put Etti under constant pressure like she did vs Pogonina and Kosintseva. I don’t deny that Etti is a great talent but you overestimate her and claiming that “even Ifan or Koneru are not problem for her” is just ridiculous. Or if true it only proves how inconsistent she is.
Well maybe my wishful thinking but I really believe Anna has higher chances, she needs it more to be finally noticed by sponsors, coaches, general public, she will be much better ambassador for the women’s chess because not giving interviews because of some superstiction is just ridiculous and unallowable and doesn’t help the sport at all. Just imagine Federer refusing to give interviews untill he wins the slam. Even Serena would never afford this.
Its obvious who will win! Its Anna! The more people favor Stefonova, the better chances Anna has. She did beat Anna Mozychuck and Ju – no mean feat! Furthermore, she is an underdog and this year underdogs win! Pressure is on Stefonova!