Women's World Chess Championship 2012

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Women's World Chess Championship 2012
Anna Ushenina 2011.jpg
Anna Ushenina, winner of the 2012 championship.
VenueYugra Chess Academy
Location Khanty Mansiysk, Russia
Dates10 November – 1 December 2012
Competitors64
Champion
Flag of Ukraine.svg Anna Ushenina
  2011
2013  

The Women's World Chess Championship 2012 was a knockout tournament, to decide the women's world champion. [1] The title was won by Anna Ushenina of Ukraine for the first time. [2] Defending champion Hou Yifan went out in the second round.

Contents

The tournament was played as a 64-player knockout type in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, from 10 November to 1 December 2012. Each pairing consisted of two games, and tie-breaks at faster time controls, if necessary.

After only two wins by lower-rated players in the first round, the second round saw the top three seeds all going out to players rated 150 Elo points below them. Of those, third seed Anna Muzychuk lost to the eventual world champion. [3] The fourth seed went out in the quarter-final. The final consisted of four games at classical time control, followed by tie-break games; in it, Anna Ushenina beat former women's world champion Antoaneta Stefanova in the first set of tie-breaks. The unexpected final of two lower-seeded players led to questions regarding whether a single-match knock-out system is the best way to determine the world champion. [4]

Ushenina lost her title in the Women's World Chess Championship 2013, after game seven of a ten-game match against Hou Yifan, winner of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2011–2012.

Participants

Players qualified for the tournament through the previous world championship, the FIDE rating list, continental championships, and two FIDE president nominees. Players were seeded by their Elo ratings (November 2012 list), [5] except that defending champion Hou Yifan was the no. 1 seed. [6]

  1. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Hou Yifan  (China), 2606, GM (WC)
  2. Flag of India.svg  Humpy Koneru  (India), 2610, GM (WC)
  3. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Anna Muzychuk  (Slovenia), 2586, GM (J10)
  4. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Zhao Xue  (China), 2565, GM (WC)
  5. Flag of Ukraine.svg  Kateryna Lahno  (Ukraine), 2553, GM (E11)
  6. Flag of Russia.svg  Nadezhda Kosintseva  (Russia), 2539, GM (E10)
  7. Flag of Lithuania.svg  Viktorija Čmilytė  (Lithuania), 2524, GM (E10)
  8. Flag of France.svg  Marie Sebag  (France), 2521, GM (E10)
  9. Flag of Russia.svg  Valentina Gunina  (Russia), 2517, IM (R)
  10. Flag of Sweden.svg  Pia Cramling  (Sweden), 2516, GM (E10)
  11. Flag of Russia.svg  Tatiana Kosintseva  (Russia), 2515, GM (E10)
  12. Flag of India.svg  Dronavalli Harika  (India), 2512, GM (AS11)
  13. Flag of Georgia.svg  Bela Khotenashvili  (Georgia), 2504, IM (E11)
  14. Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandra Kosteniuk  (Russia), 2501, GM (R)
  15. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ju Wenjun  (China), 2501, WGM (Z3.5)
  16. Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Antoaneta Stefanova  (Bulgaria), 2491, GM (E10)
  17. Flag of Qatar.svg  Zhu Chen  (Qatar), 2491, GM (R)
  18. Flag of the United States.svg  Anna Zatonskih  (United States), 2489, IM (Z2.1)
  19. Flag of Russia.svg  Natalia Pogonina  (Russia), 2478, WGM (E11)
  20. Flag of Ukraine.svg  Mariya Muzychuk  (Ukraine), 2476, IM (E10)
  21. Flag of Armenia.svg  Elina Danielian  (Armenia), 2476, GM (E11)
  22. Flag of Hungary.svg  Hoang Thanh Trang  (HUN), 2470, GM (E11)
  23. Flag of the United States.svg  Irina Krush  (United States), 2470, IM (Z2.1)
  24. Flag of Russia.svg  Alisa Galliamova  (Russia), 2468, IM (R)
  25. Flag of Russia.svg  Olga Girya  (Russia), 2467, WGM (PN)
  26. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Huang Qian  (China), 2465, WGM (Z3.5)
  27. Flag of Armenia.svg  Lilit Mkrtchian  (Armenia), 2457, IM (E11)
  28. Flag of Georgia.svg  Lela Javakhishvili  (Georgia), 2455, IM (E11)
  29. Flag of Greece.svg  Yelena Dembo  (Greece), 2454, IM (E10)
  30. Flag of Ukraine.svg  Anna Ushenina  (Ukraine), 2452, IM (R)
  31. Flag of Ukraine.svg  Natalia Zhukova  (Ukraine), 2451, GM (E10)
  32. Flag of Poland.svg  Monika Soćko  (Poland), 2445, GM (E10)
  33. Flag of France.svg  Almira Skripchenko  (France), 2441, IM (R)
  34. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Guo Qi  (China), 2432, WGM (PN)
  35. Flag of Peru.svg  Deysi Cori  (Peru), 2429, WGM (J11)
  36. Flag of Georgia.svg  Nino Khurtsidze  (Georgia), 2428, IM (E10)
  37. Flag of Russia.svg  Anastasia Bodnaruk  (Russia), 2415, IM (E11)
  38. Flag of Scotland.svg  Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant  (Scotland), 2414, GM (E11)
  39. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Shen Yang  (China), 2413, WGM (Z3.5)
  40. Flag of Poland.svg  Iweta Rajlich  (Poland), 2410, IM (E10)
  41. Flag of Russia.svg  Ekaterina Kovalevskaya  (Russia), 2409, IM (E10)
  42. Flag of Singapore.svg  Li Ruofan  (SIN), 2394, IM (Z3.3)
  43. Flag of Russia.svg  Evgenija Ovod  (Russia), 2384, IM (E11)
  44. Flag of Georgia.svg  Sopiko Khukhashvili  (Georgia), 2383, IM (E11)
  45. Flag of Romania.svg  Cristina Adela Foișor  (Romania), 2383, IM (E11)
  46. Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Matveeva  (Russia), 2377, IM (E11)
  47. Flag of Argentina.svg  Carolina Lujan  (Argentina), 2369, IM (Z2.5)
  48. Flag of Belarus.svg  Nastassia Ziaziulkina  (Belarus), 2367, WGM (E10)
  49. Flag of Russia.svg  Marina Romanko  (Russia), 2355, IM (E11)
  50. Flag of Iran.svg  Atousa Pourkashiyan  (Iran), 2321, WGM (AS10)
  51. Flag of the United States.svg  Tatev Abrahamyan  (United States), 2304, WGM (Z2.1)
  52. Flag of Cuba.svg  Maritza Arribas Robaina  (Cuba), 2273, WGM (AM)
  53. Flag of India.svg  Soumya Swaminathan  (India), 2251, WGM (Z3.7)
  54. Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Madina Davletbayeva  (Kazakhstan), 2220, WIM (Z3.4)
  55. Flag of Iran.svg  Shayesteh Ghader Pour  (Iran), 2219, WIM (Z3.1)
  56. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Gu Xiaobing  (China), 2209, WGM (Z3.5)
  57. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Irina Berezina  (Australia), 2190, IM (Z3.6)
  58. Flag of Peru.svg  Ingrid Aliaga Fernández  (Peru), 2175, WFM (Z2.4)
  59. Flag of Colombia.svg  Melissa Castrillón Gómez  (Colombia), 2159, WIM (Z2.3)
  60. Flag of Egypt.svg  Mona Khaled  (Egypt), 2155, WGM (AF)
  61. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Natalia Khoudgarian  (Canada), 2138, WIM (Z2.2)
  62. Flag of Algeria.svg  Amina Mezioud  (Algeria), 2055, WIM (AF)
  63. Flag of South Africa.svg  Denise Frick  (South Africa), 1871, WIM (AF)
  64. Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  S D Ranasinghe  (Sri Lanka), 1821, WIM (Z3.2)

Qualification paths

Notable non-participants

The number one woman in the world, Judit Polgár, has never competed for the women's title and did not enter this time either. Other notable absentees were: women's number six Nana Dzagnidze, 2010 finalist Ruan Lufei, and ex-champion Maia Chiburdanidze (inactive).

Format

Each pairing consisted of two games played over two days, one with White and one with Black. The time controls in the classical games were 90 minutes for the first 40 moves with a 30-minute addition on move 41. In case of a tie, tiebreaks were played the next day. The format for the tie breaks was as follows: [1]

Prize pool

The championship had a prize-pool of 450,000 US-Dollar. Prizes were $3,750 for first-round losers, $5,500 for the second round, 8,000 for the third. Losing quarter-finalists picked up $12,000, the semi-finalists $20,000. Stefanova then got $30,000 for finishing runner-up to Ushenina, who got $60,000 in prize money. It was the same distribution as in the 2010 knock-out championship.

Coverage

Antoaneta Stefanova, losing finalist Stefanowa antoaneta 20081119 olympiade dresden.jpg
Antoaneta Stefanova, losing finalist

The tournament was streamed on the tournament website each day in full length. Live coverage was interrupted only for advertising breaks. The videostream was also playable on demand until the next day started. Coverage was provided in low and high definition with Grand Master commentary in three languages: English, Russian and for the first time Chinese. In the final days the broadcast was watched by several hundred thousand live viewers. [7]

Results

Final match

The final match was decided after four matches at classical time controls and two rapid tie-breaks. Anna Ushenina won the title, beating 2004 Women's World Chess champion Stefanova. Stefanova also was the reigning Women's World Rapid champion. [8]

Women's World Chess Championship Final 2012
Rating1234R1R2Total
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Antoaneta Stefanova  (Bulgaria)2491½½01½0
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Anna Ushenina  (Ukraine)2452½½10½1

Bracket

First round pairings were published on 1 November 2012. [9]

1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                  
1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Hou Yifan 2
64 Flag of Sri Lanka.svg S Ranasinghe 0
1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Hou Yifan 1
32 Flag of Poland.svg M Soćko 3
32 Flag of Poland.svg M Soćko
33 Flag of France.svg A Skripchenko ½
32 Flag of Poland.svg M Soćko 0
16 Flag of Bulgaria.svg A Stefanova 2
16 Flag of Bulgaria.svg A Stefanova 2
49 Flag of Russia.svg M Romanko 0
16 Flag of Bulgaria.svg A Stefanova
17 Flag of Qatar.svg Zhu Chen ½
17 Flag of Qatar.svg Zhu Chen 2
48 Flag of Belarus.svg N Ziaziulkina 0
16 Flag of Bulgaria.svg A Stefanova 3
8 Flag of France.svg M Sebag 1
8 Flag of France.svg M Sebag
57 Flag of Australia (converted).svg I Berezina ½
8 Flag of France.svg M Sebag
25 Flag of Russia.svg O Girya ½
25 Flag of Russia.svg O Girya
40 Flag of Poland.svg I Rajlich ½
8 Flag of France.svg M Sebag 2
24 Flag of Russia.svg A Galliamova 0
9 Flag of Russia.svg V Gunina 2
56 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Gu XB 0
9 Flag of Russia.svg V Gunina ½
24 Flag of Russia.svg A Galliamova
24 Flag of Russia.svg A Galliamova 3
41 Flag of Russia.svg E Kovalevskaya 1
16 Flag of Bulgaria.svg A Stefanova
12 Flag of India.svg D Harika ½
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhao Xue 2
61 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg N Khoudgarian 0
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhao Xue
36 Flag of Georgia.svg N Khurtsidze
29 Flag of Greece.svg Y Dembo ½
36 Flag of Georgia.svg N Khurtsidze
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhao Xue
20 Flag of Ukraine.svg M Muzychuk ½
13 Flag of Georgia.svg B Khotenashvili
52 Flag of Cuba.svg M Arribas R
52 Flag of Cuba.svg M Arribas R ½
20 Flag of Ukraine.svg M Muzychuk
20 Flag of Ukraine.svg M Muzychuk [10]
45 Flag of Romania.svg C A Foișor
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhao Xue
12 Flag of India.svg D Harika
5 Flag of Ukraine.svg K Lahno 2
60 Flag of Egypt.svg M Khaled 0
5 Flag of Ukraine.svg K Lahno ½
28 Flag of Georgia.svg L Javakhishvili
28 Flag of Georgia.svg L Javakhishvili
37 Flag of Russia.svg A Bodnaruk
28 Flag of Georgia.svg L Javakhishvili ½
12 Flag of India.svg D Harika
12 Flag of India.svg D Harika
53 Flag of India.svg S Soumya ½
12 Flag of India.svg D Harika
21 Flag of Armenia.svg E Danielian ½
21 Flag of Armenia.svg E Danielian 4
44 Flag of Georgia.svg S Khukhashvili 2
16 Flag of Bulgaria.svg A Stefanova
30 Flag of Ukraine.svg A Ushenina
3 Flag of Slovenia.svg A Muzychuk 2
62 Flag of Algeria.svg A Mezioud 0
3 Flag of Slovenia.svg A Muzychuk 1
30 Flag of Ukraine.svg A Ushenina 3
30 Flag of Ukraine.svg A Ushenina
35 Flag of Peru.svg D Cori ½
30 Flag of Ukraine.svg A Ushenina
19 Flag of Russia.svg N Pogonina ½
19 Flag of Russia.svg N Pogonina 3
46 Flag of Russia.svg S Matveeva 1
19 Flag of Russia.svg N Pogonina
14 Flag of Russia.svg A Kosteniuk ½
14 Flag of Russia.svg A Kosteniuk
51 Flag of the United States.svg T Abrahamyan ½
30 Flag of Ukraine.svg A Ushenina
6 Flag of Russia.svg N Kosintseva ½
6 Flag of Russia.svg N Kosintseva 2
59 Flag of Colombia.svg M Castrillón G 0
6 Flag of Russia.svg N Kosintseva
27 Flag of Armenia.svg L Mkrtchian
27 Flag of Armenia.svg L Mkrtchian 2
38 Flag of Scotland.svg K Arakhamia-G 0
6 Flag of Russia.svg N Kosintseva
11 Flag of Russia.svg T Kosintseva
22 Flag of Hungary.svg Hoang T T
43 Flag of Russia.svg E Ovod ½
22 Flag of Hungary.svg Hoang T T ½
11 Flag of Russia.svg T Kosintseva
54 Flag of Kazakhstan.svg M Davletbayeva ½
11 Flag of Russia.svg T Kosintseva
30 Flag of Ukraine.svg A Ushenina
15 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Ju Wenjun
7 Flag of Lithuania.svg V Cmilyte
58 Flag of Peru.svg I Aliaga F ½
7 Flag of Lithuania.svg V Čmilytė ½
26 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Huang Q
26 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Huang Q
39 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shen Yang ½
26 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Huang Q
23 Flag of the United States.svg I Krush
42 Flag of Singapore.svg Li Ruofan
23 Flag of the United States.svg I Krush
23 Flag of the United States.svg I Krush 3
10 Flag of Sweden.svg P Cramling 1
55 Flag of Iran.svg S Ghader Pour 0
10 Flag of Sweden.svg P Cramling 2
26 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Huang Q
15 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Ju Wenjun
15 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Ju Wenjun 4
50 Flag of Iran.svg A Pourkashiyan 2
15 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Ju Wenjun 4
18 Flag of the United States.svg A Zatonskih 2
47 Flag of Argentina.svg C Lujan ½
18 Flag of the United States.svg A Zatonskih
15 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Ju Wenjun
31 Flag of Ukraine.svg N Zhukova
31 Flag of Ukraine.svg N Zhukova
34 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guo Qi ½
31 Flag of Ukraine.svg N Zhukova 2
2 Flag of India.svg H Koneru 0
63 Flag of South Africa.svg D Frick 0
2 Flag of India.svg H Koneru 2

References

  1. 1 2 "Women's World Chess Championship regulations" (PDF). FIDE. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. "Kharkiv native becomes Ukraine's first women's world chess champion". kyivpost.com. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  3. "Favourites fall at the Women's World Championship round two". Chessbase.com. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  4. Dylan Loeb McClain (1 December 2012). "Underdog Takes Women's World Title". New York Times. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  5. Top 100 Women November 2012
  6. "Participants of FIDE World women's chess championship 2012". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  7. "Mark Glukhovsky: Women players are very beautiful". chess2012.ugrasport.com. 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  8. "Stefanova Wins Women's World Rapid Championship". chess.com. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  9. "Pairings, Participants and Schedule of the WWCC 2012". Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  10. Played black in armageddon game