Kazan Chess Grand Prix for Women Round 2: Betul Yildiz of Turkey beats Hou Yifan of China

The Kazan Chess Grand Prix Round 2 highlight was the victory of Turkish chess player Betul Yildiz over reigning women’s world chess champion Hou Yifan. The Chinese champion went for a sacrifice in an extremely complicated middle game and then missed the winning combination in time trouble. Betul did not let the opportunity pass her and won the game.

In another decisive game of Round 2, Anna Muzychuk sacrificed a pawn as White and beat former women’s world chess champion Antoaneta Stefanova. The third decisive game after a long-drawn struggle was former women’s world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk fighting all the way to a well-earned win over Viktorija Cmilyte. Another Russian player, Alisa Galliamova, could have gone for a clear lead by winning both the rounds but played a draw in time trouble against her country-mate Tatiana Kosintseva. Two other games also ended in draws: Katerina Lahno – Nadezhda Kosintseva and Elina Danielian – Humpy Koneru.

Three players are in joint lead at the Kazan Chess Women’s Grand Prix with 1.5 points each: Anna Muzychuk, Alisa Galliamova and Alexandra Kosteniuk. You can watch the tournament live from India time 4 pm at the offcial website of the tournament.

(Photos by Rashit Shiriyazdanov and Anastasiya Karlovichwith kind permission of FIDE/official website of Kazan Chess Grand Prix)