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Hou Yifan

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Template:Chinese name

Hou Yifan
Full nameHou Yifan
Country China
TitleGrandmaster (qualified in August 2008, not yet ratified)
International Master (Sep 2008)
Woman Grandmaster (Jan 2007)
Woman FIDE Master (Jan 2004)
FIDE rating2578
(No. 3 Woman and No.1 Girl on the October 2008 FIDE rankings)
Peak rating2578 (October 2008)

Hou Yifan (Chinese: Lua error in Module:Wd at line 2662: The function "侯" does not exist.Lua error in Module:Wd at line 2662: The function "逸" does not exist.Lua error in Module:Wd at line 2662: The function "凡" does not exist.; pinyin: Hóu Yìfán pronunciation) (born February 27, 1994, in Xinghua, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China)[2][3] is a Chinese chess prodigy, who in 2008, became the youngest ever female in history (at the age of 14 years 6 months 2 days) to qualify for the title of Grandmaster, the highest a chess player can attain.

In June 2007, she became China's youngest ever National Women's Champion, and in September 2008 she became the youngest ever finalist for the Women's World Championship title.

In the most recent (October 2008) FIDE rating list, she is ranked the World Number 1 girl player[4] and the World Number 3 female player in the world.[5]

Career

Hou started playing chess at the age of 6. "I took up chess because I was fascinated by the pieces - I just liked it. In the future, I want to be a professional chess player or maybe study to be a doctor", she said in 2007.[6] She was admitted to the National Chess Center, an academy for young talented players from all over the country,[7] in Beijing when she was 10,[8] and has leading Chinese grandmasters Ye Jiangchuan and Yu Shaoteng as her trainers.[9][10] She lives with her mother in Beijing.[7] She lists her interests as reading and studying, and her favorite chess player as Bobby Fischer.[6][7]

Chess writer Leonard Barden has said that she could rival Judit Polgar as the best ever female player.[11]

2003

Hou Yifan's first major tournament was in August 31 - September 12 2003 at the Chinese Team Chess Championship (Men's) in Tianjin.[12] She scored 3.0/7 and had a 2246 performance rating.[13]

Her first international tournament brought early success when she came first (9.5/11; +8 =3 -0) in the girl's under-10 section of the World Youth Championship in Halkidiki, Greece in 23 October-2 November 2003.[14]

In November (15th-26th), she made her debut in the National Women's Chess Championship, held at Shanwei, Guangdong.[15] She finished in 14th place with 3.5/9. Her performance rating was 2202.[16]

2004

On 1 January 2004, she received her first International FIDE rating of 2168, which automatically qualified her for the title of Woman FIDE Master (>2100 elo points).

In April, she competed at the Chinese Team Chess Championship (Women's) in Jinan, Shandong.[17] She scored 1.5/7 having faced an average opposition rating (Rc) of 2316.[18]

In 3-14 November, she came in third place (9.0/11; +8 =2 -1, tied for first on points) and won bronze this time in the boy's under-10 section of the World Youth Championship, held in Heraklio, Crete.[19]

At the 11th Asian Women's Championship that took place in Beirut, Lebanon 4-11 December 2004, she came 11th with a score of 4.5/9 (+4 =1 -4; TPR 2278). Wang Yu of China won the event with 6.5/9.[20]

2005

Hou Yifan, when she was 11, at the 2005 World Team Chess Championship, Beersheva, Israel

In February, she competed at the 4th Aeroflot Open (Group C) in Moscow,[21] where she scored 2.0/5.[22]

In April, she came to the notice of the international chess community for her fifth place and a score of 7.0/11 (+6 =2 -3) (tied for fourth) at the 3 Arrows Cup 2005 ladies tournament in Jinan, China. In that tournament, she defeated international master Almira Skripchenko and achieved a performance rating of 2393.[23]

From 28 June - 6 July at the 2nd China-France Youth Match, which took place in Shenzhen, Guangdong, Hou Yifan scored 3.0/8 (+2 =2 -4). The Chinese team (Zhou Jianchao, Zhao Jun, Zhao Xue and Hou) won the match 19-13.[24]

In 18-29 July at the World Youth Chess Championship in Belfort, France, Hou Yifan came 5th in the Boy's Under-12 Section with 8.0/11.[25] Earlier in the month at the Festival Open International des Jeunes in Saint Lo, France she came second out of 75 players with 6.0/8, behind Wen Yang.[26][27]

In October, she managed to qualify for the FIDE World Women's Chess Championship to be held in March 2006. Only rated 2220 and ranked women's number 28 in her own country, she did so by winning the Chinese Women's Zonal (3.5) tournament, ahead of a group of well known Chinese players. She scored 6.0/9 points with a performance rating of 2401.[28]

The 6th World Team Chess Championship was staged in Beersheva, Israel in 31 October-11 November.[29] China fielded two teams - the men's and women's, which was only the second time in the championship history where a women's team competed in what has traditionally been a male team event.[30] This was Hou Yifan's first major team tournament and she was the youngest participant there at 11 years of age.[31] She played as second reserve and finished with 0.0/3.[32] The Chinese women's team drew one match and lost all their others (+0 =1 -7) finishing last.[33] The tournament was won by Russia, with China (men's) coming in second and Armenia third.[34][35][36]

In December Hou Yifan came second at the China Women Selective Tournament in Beijing for the 37th Chess Olympiad to be held in May-June 2006 in Turin, Italy. She scored 16.5/28 and gained a whopping 121 elo-points. She made the Olympiad team with Wang Yu and Shen Yang, the other top three finishers.[37][38]

2006

Hou proved that her performance at the 3 Arrows Cup 2005 was not a fluke by reaching the third round (the last 16) of the Women's World Chess Championship in March 2006.[39] Despite being rated 2269 and seeded 56th out of 64 players,[40] she defeated IM Nadezhda Kosintseva (rated 2480) of Russia 1.5-0.5 in the first round, then the former 2000 European champion WGM Natalia Zhukova (2432) of Ukraine 2-0 in the 2nd round,[41] but lost to IM Nino Khurtsidze (2430) of Georgia 0-2 in the third to post a decent performance rating of 2504.[42][43]

In May-June 2006, China came third winning bronze at the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy. Hou Yifan at her Olympiad debut confirmed her talent with a score of 11.0/13 (+10, =2, -1), all played on the third board, and finished with a performance rating of 2596.[44] For her winning percentage of 84.6%, she won a silver medal for fourth (reserve) board performance, and her performance rating of 2596 was the third highest overall.[45][46]

The Chinese Championships for men and women took place in Wuxi, Jiangsu 25 June - 6 July 2006. Ni Hua took the men's title and Li Ruofan the women's. Hou Yifan came fourth in the women's category V (2369) event with a score of 7.0/11 (+5 =4 -2) and a performance rating of 2477.[47]

In July-August, she had a lacklustre performance at what has been traditionally the strongest women's tournament - the North Urals Cup in Krasnoturinsk, Russia.[48] Although seeded third, she failed to win a game scoring 3.0/9 (+0 =6 -3) with a performance rating of 2357. She finished 8th out of 10 players.[49]

The China-Russia Summit Match saw two double round robin Scheveningen format events, one for men and one for women (cat. VIII (2444)), taking place in Ergun, Mongolia 10-20 August 2006. Russia won the men's event 26.5-23.5 but China won the women's section 28-22, therefore in the combined standings China beat Russia 51.5-48.5. Hou Yifan was the highest scoring female player on tiebreak with 6.5/10 (+5 =3 -2).[50]

China and France played for the Trophée MULTICOMS in Paris 4-9 September 2006. This was also a Scheveningen team match with 6 men and 3 women in the teams. France edged out China 20-16 in the men's event. The women's section was a complete mismatch in terms of ELO ratings in favour of the Chinese and they confirmed this over the board winning 12.5-5.5. The overall result was China 28.5 France 25.5. Hou Yifan was again the highest scoring female player with 5.0/6 and a performance rating of 2498.[51]

In October in Yerevan, Armenia at the World Junior Chess Championship (Girl's section) she went on to take second place on tiebreak with a score of 9.0/12 (+7 =4 -2; tied for first on points[52]) behind her compatriot Shen Yang. Her rating performance was 2469.[53][54]

2007

At the start of 2007 in January, Hou achieved a respectable fifth place in Group C (Cat. 10, 2486) of the Corus Chess Tournament. She scored 7.0/13 (+4 =6 -3) with a performance rating of 2513.[55][56][57] It was at this tournament when she earned her WGM title, formally conferred by FIDE in late January 2007. She achieved her WGM norms at the following tournaments:[58]

In her first A1 Group event at the Aeroflot Open in February 2007 a few weeks before her 13th birthday, she started well with two wins out of two defeating first Russian IM, Nikita Vitiugov rated 2604, and then the former (2001) European Champion, GM Emil Sutovsky of Israel rated 2629. However in the third round she was defeated by the Russian Championship runnerup, Dmitry Jakovenko, and managed only one draw in her next five games. She rallied in the final round with a victory against the strong Greek grandmaster, Vassilios Kotronias and finished with a respectable 3.5/9.[59][60][61]

In March, at the 1st Ruy Lopez International Festival (cat. XV (2607)) in Zafra, the birth place of Ruy López de Segura, Hou suffered a bad performance finishing in last place with 2.0/7 (+1 =2 -4). Her performance rating was 2462.[62][63]

In April Hou Yifan came second at the China Women Selective Tournament in Ningbo for the 2007 Asian Indoor Games to be held in October. She scored 8.0/14 (+6 =4 -4).[64]

In 1-11 May 2007, in Dagomys at the 8th Russian Team Chess Championship (Women's), she played for Southern Ural Chelyabinsk on board one and scored 6.5/10 (+5 =3 -2).[65][66] In 19-30 May 2007 in Ekaterinburg, the 1st World Women's Team Chess Championship was held. Hou Yifan was part of the winning China national team that also included Zhao Xue, Ruan Lufei, Shen Yang, and Huang Qian. Hou Yifan played in every round on board two and scored 7.5/9 (+7 =1 -1) winning the gold medal for that board. Her performance rating was 2559.[67][68][69]

In June 2007, she won her first Chinese Women's Chess Championship in Chongqing, breaking WGM Qin Kanying's—who won her first title at the age of 14 in 1988—record as the youngest champion with a score of 9.0/11 (+7 =4 -0). Second and third place went to Zhao Xue and Shen Yang, respectively.[70][71]

In July, she improved on the previous year's performance at the North Urals Cup in Krasnoturinsk, finishing in 7th place out of 10 players. She scored 4.0/9 (+3 =2 -4) with a performance rating of 2436. The tournament was won by Zhu Chen and second placed was Zhao Xue.[72][73][74]

In 4-15 August, she competed in what was then her strongest closed tournament - the 5th Gyorgy Marx Memorial (Cat. 14, 2582) in Paks, Hungary. Being the lowest rated player and the only non-Grandmaster (out of Pentala Harikrishna, Peter Acs, Csaba Balogh, Ferenc Berkes and Viktor Korchnoi), she finished in last place in the double round robin event with 3.0/10 (+1 =4 -5; TPR 2444).[75][76]

At the UK-China Match in Liverpool 3rd-9th September 2007, China had a comfortable 28-20 win against the UK team. Hou Yifan competed in the men's team and scored 2.5/6 (+1 =3 -2) with a performance rating of 2540. The average rating of her opposition (Rc) was 2598.[77]

In late September, she came first at the 2007 Chinese Women's Zonal (3.5) tournament in Tianjin with a score of 8.0/9 (+7 =2 -0).[78]

In October 2007, she competed at the 12th European Club Cup in Kemer, Turkey on board two for team Southern Ural Cheliabinsk, which came in at fourth place in the women's tournament. She came 5th in the individual women's standings with a score of 5.0/7 (+3 =4 -0) and a performance rating of 2547.[79][80]

From October 26 to November 3, she competed for Team China at the 2nd Asian Indoor Games in Macau. The national team won team gold in the classic chess mixed team event with 11 match points (18.5 game points out of 24) The Chinese team were Zhao Xue, Xu Yuhua, Hou Yifan, Wang Hao, Ni Hua and Bu Xiangzhi.[81] Hou Yifan also won an individual gold medal for her board two display with a score of 5.5/6 (+5 =1 -0; 91.7%) and a performance rating of 2596.[82][83]

2008

This year she began a concerted attempt to become a grandmaster.

In the January Corus 2008 chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Hou competed in Group B where she finished in a tie for 7-10th place (9th by tiebreak) achieving 6.0/13 (+3 -4 =6) with a performance rating of 2598 and victories over three grandmasters, including a 23 move win over Nigel Short.[84]

In February 2008, Hou gained her first Grandmaster norm with a performance rating of 2605 at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow by finishing in 31st place with a score of 4.5/9 (+2 =5 -2).[85][86]

This was followed in March 2008 with a victory at the 1st Atatürk International Women Masters Chess Tournament (cat. IX (2461)) in Istanbul, Turkey where she finished a point ahead of the rest of the field on 7.0/9 and a tournament performance rating of 2674.[87][88] She did not lose a single game having won 5 games and drawn 4. Her victory in this tournament should also provide her a GM norm though this is conditional on FIDE ratifying WGM Zhao Xue's attainment of her Grandmaster title.[89] According to a report she gained a GM norm, as there were 2 GM players (Pia Cramling and Zhu Chen) and she had well above 2600 performance.[90] However, the requirements for such a GM norm include playing against 3 GM opponents.[91]

Hou Yifan at the 2008 World Junior Chess Championship, Gaziantep, Turkey where she gained a GM norm.

In April 2008, she competed in Mérida, Spain at the 2nd Ruy Lopez Chess Festival tournament. In the category XV (2616) round robin event she failed to gain a GM norm after finishing in 7th place out of 8 players with 2.0/7 (+1, =2, -4) and a rating performance of 2467.[92][93]

In May-June 2008, she became the Chinese Women's Champion for the second time running with 9.0/11 points (+7 =4 -0) in Beijing and having a performance of 2599.[94][95]

At the July 2008 First Saturday GM Tournament in Budapest, Hou Yifan was the top seed but came in second place with 9.0/12 narrowly missing a GM norm by half a point. Her performance rating was 2574.[96]

In August 2008 she competed in the World Junior Chess Championship held at Gazientep, Turkey where she competed as the only female in the boy's section for the first time in her career and was the 16th seed on the entrant's list.[97] Hou finished joint 3rd-7th on 9.0/13 (+6 =6 -1) achieving a performance rating of 2661,[98] in the process obtaining her second confirmed GM norm.[99]

In September 2008, FIDE refered to her as a "GM-elect",[100] indicating that her Atatürk norm had been confirmed. This means Hou Yifan qualified for the title of Grandmaster in August at the age of 14 years 6 months 2 days, making her one of the youngest grandmasters in history, and the youngest female.

She competed in her second Women's World Chess Championship in August - September 2008 where she finished as runner-up. She qualified by being one of the six highest rated players from the average of the July 2006-January 2007 period. In this 2008 Championship knockout tournament held in Nalchik, Russia, she was seeded no. 3 out of 64 players. She defeated WGM Mona Khaled (Egypt) 2-0 in the first round, and WGM Bathuyang Mongontuul (Mongolia) 2-0 in the second. In third round, she had to go to rapid playoffs to eventually beat IM Elena Sedina (Italy) 3-1 (1-1, 2-0). In the quaterfinals she won against Armenian IM Lilit Mkrtchian by 1.5-0.5. In the semifinals she defeated Indian GM Koneru Humpy, the no. 2 seed, by 4-2 (1-1, 1-1, 2-0). She lost the final to Alexandra Kosteniuk by 2.5-1.5. In this tournament she became the youngest ever finalist for the Women's World Championship title. By reaching the final, she automatically gained the International Master (IM) title and a "runner-up 9-game grandmaster norm", her fourth GM norm overall[101].

She will compete at the 1st World Mind Sports Games in Beijing on 3-8 October,[102] Cap d'Agde Rapid tournament on October 24-November 1,[103] and at the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden on 12-25 November.[104]

China Chess League

See: China Chess League

Hou Yifan has participated in the 2007 and 2008 seasons of the Chinese domestic league, officially known as the "Torch Real Estate Cup Chinese Chess League Division A". She plays for Shandong Qilu Evening News Chess Team, who were the 2007 champions when they defeated previous champion Beijing team by 3.5 to 1.5.[105] In 2008, her team mates were GM Bu Xiangzhi, GM Zhao Jun, GM Wen Yang, and WGM Zhang Jilin. In the 2008 season, there were 18 rounds in six different cities over a six month period, from March to August.[106]

Rating

Rated 2557 in the July 2008 FIDE rating list, Hou is the 4th highest rated female player and the highest rated girl player in the world. She is also the youngest person in any of the FIDE's "top players" lists.[107]

On 1 July 2006, she was the youngest ever female player to enter the Top 50 Women (Number 8)[108] and Top 20 Girls (Number 2)[109] FIDE lists at age of 12 (rated 2488), since FIDE began releasing these lists in 2000.

Between the April 2006 and July 2006 FIDE rating lists, she gained an impressive 190 rating points from a rating of 2298 to a rating of 2488,[110] which made her the eighth highest rated female player, and the second highest rated girl, in the world.

Rating list[111] Rating[111] Games[111] Change[112] National women's
ranking[112]
Women's world ranking
(Girl's)[112]
World ranking[113]
January 2004 2168 23 - 40 662-667 -
April 2004 2168 0 0 40 657-659 23776
July 2004 2153 7 -15 63 755-763 20601
October 2004 2153 0 0 43 782-788 27081
January 2005 2144 3 -9 44 834-845 28770
April 2005 2158 13 +14 42-43 763-769 26586
July 2005 2158 0 0 41 760-763 26896
October 2005 2220 25 +62 28 470-475 16973
January 2006 2269 12 +49 21 291-294 10606
April 2006 2298 6 +29 16 204-207 7959
July 2006 2488 41 +190 3 8 (2) 855
October 2006 2481 19 -7 4 10 (2) 942
January 2007 2509 30 +28 3 8 (2) 673
April 2007 2513 22 +4 2 6 (2) 646
July 2007 2523 25 +10 2 4 (2) 565
October 2007 2502 19 -21 3 8 (2) 742
January 2008 2527 67* +25 2 5 (1) 549
April 2008 2549 22 +22 2 4 (1) 386
July 2008 2557 35 +8 2 4 (1) 363
October 2008 2578 40 +21 1 3 (1) ?
  • bold, new peak rating
  • * Most number of games played in a quarter by a female player in FIDE rating history[114]

Openings

Hou Yifan's openings repertoire includes primarily playing 1.e4 as White and as Black, the Sicilian Defence (including the Najdorf, Dragon and Closed variations) and the French Defence against 1.e4 and, the Nimzo-/Bogo-Indian and Queen's Indian defences against 1.d4.[115]

Notable game

abcdefgh
8
e8 black rook
g8 black king
h7 black pawn
c6 white rook
g6 black pawn
f4 white pawn
h4 white pawn
c3 black pawn
e3 white knight
g3 white pawn
c2 white knight
d2 black pawn
e2 white king
c1 black rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
G. Sargissian-Hou Y.

Final position after 49...Re8 0-1

On 25 January 2008, Hou as Black, beats, GM Gabriel Sargissian (2676) of Armenia and long time second of Levon Aronian in Corus (Group B), Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. This is, as to date, the highest rated opponent she has defeated.

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Nimzowitsch Variation (E15) 5. Qc2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. e4 d5 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9. Kxf1 exd5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Nc3 Nxd2+ Novelty 12. Nxd2 Qd7 13. Kg2 Nc6 14. Qa4 O-O 15. Rac1 f6? 16.Nd1 Nxe5 17.Qxd7 Nxd7 18.Rxc7 Bb4 19.Nf3 +/-; better was 15...Rfd8 16. f4 fxe5 17. dxe5 Bb4 18. Rhf1 Rac8 19. Ne2 Nxe5 20. Qxb4 Nd3 21. Qb3 Nxc1 22. Nxc1 Rce8 23. Nf3 Qf5 24. Rf2 c5 25. Qd3 Qe4 26. Rd2 d4 27. Qxe4 Rxe4 28. Nd3 Re6 29. h4 Rc8 30. a4 a6 31. Nfe5 b5 32. a5 g6 33. Rc2 c4 34. Nb4 Rf8 35. b3 d3 36. Rd2 Rc8 37. Rd1 Rd6 38. Kf3 d2 39. bxc4 bxc4 40. Nc2 c3 41. Ke2 Rd5 42. Ng4 Rxa5 43. Nge3 Rd8 44. Rb1 Ra2 45. Kd1 Rb2 46. Ra1 Rdb8 47. Rxa6 Rb1+ 48. Ke2 Rc1 49. Rc6 Re8 0-1 The blockade by the knights is only imaginary. If 50. Kd3, then Rxc2 follows.

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Hou Yifan New in Chess NICBase Online Info.
  2. ^ a b Profile, China Chess League
  3. ^ chesspawn.net
  4. ^ According to FIDE, "girl" players are those under the age of 21.
  5. ^ After Judit Polgar and Koneru Humpy, as of October 1, 2008 official FIDE rating list.
  6. ^ a b Chess grandmaster Hou, 13, is no square! Sep 4 2007 by Adrian Butler, Liverpool Echo
  7. ^ a b c WWCC 2006 Ekaterinburg, Russia. Hou Yifan: "Dreaming of a house in Paris" 22.03.2006
  8. ^ Biography of Yifan Hou. V. Marx György Memorial, 4th - 15th August 2007 Paks, Hungary.
  9. ^ Interview at the Women's World Chess Championship 2006 by the tournament's organisers. Accessed March 24, 2006.
  10. ^ ChessBase.
  11. ^ Barden, Leonard (2008-03-15). "Chess". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-03-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ CHN Team Ch.Men 2003 - Tournament details
  13. ^ CHN Team Ch.Men 2003 - CHN - Tournament report
  14. ^ World Youth Chess Championships 2003 Girls Under 10 Standings. Accessed March 26, 2006.
  15. ^ 2003 CHN Indv.Ch.Women - Tournament Details
  16. ^ CHN Indv.Ch.Women - CHN - Tournament report
  17. ^ CHN Women Team Ch.2004 - Tournament details
  18. ^ CHN Women Team Ch.2004 - CHN - Tournament report
  19. ^ World Youth Chess Championships 2004 Boys U10 Standings. Accessed March 26, 2006.
  20. ^ Asian Women's Championship
  21. ^ Aeroflot Open C - Tournament details
  22. ^ Aeroflot Open C - RUS - Tournament report
  23. ^ ChessBase news article on the World Ladies Tournament in Jinan. Accessed March 24, 2006.
  24. ^ China - France Youth Match, TWIC
  25. ^ World Youth Chess Championship 2005 - TWIC
  26. ^ Fest.Open Intl.Jeunes - FRA - Tournament report
  27. ^ Fest.Open Intl.Jeunes - Tournament details
  28. ^ Zonal 3.5 Chmp Women
  29. ^ Olimpbase tournament website
  30. ^ World Team Championships – the Chinese are coming
  31. ^ WCTC – China still in the lead
  32. ^ 6th World Team Chess Championship
  33. ^ 6th World Team Chess Championship - final placings
  34. ^ Russia leads in the World Team Championships
  35. ^ WCTC – China loses but retains the lead
  36. ^ Caught! Russians win the World Team Championship
  37. ^ China Women Selective - Tournament report
  38. ^ China Women Selective - Tournament details
  39. ^ ChessBase news article on the Women's World Championship 2006, round two. Accessed March 24, 2006.
  40. ^ Women's World Chess Championship 2006
  41. ^ Hou Beats Former European Champion
  42. ^ Womens World Championship
  43. ^ World Chess Championship (Women) 2006 FIDE Knockout Matches. Ekaterinburg, Russia, III, 2006.
  44. ^ 37th Chess Olympiad official homepage Women's Team Composition with Round Results. Accessed June 6, 2006.
  45. ^ 37th Chess Olympiad OlimpBase
  46. ^ Olympiad Statistics
  47. ^ Chinese Championships
  48. ^ North Urals Cup: Ladies Super-Tournament
  49. ^ Chessbase reports [1], [2]
  50. ^ China-Russia Summit
  51. ^ France vs China
  52. ^ World Girls U20 Chess Championships
  53. ^ ChessBase news article on the World Junior Championship 2006. Accessed December 25, 2006.
  54. ^ World Girls Chess Championships. Yerevan, October 2-17, 2006
  55. ^ Corus Grandmaster Group C Final Standings. Accessed February 15, 2007.
  56. ^ Wijk aan Zee 2007
  57. ^ Corus, Wijk aan Zee 2007. Round 13 28th January 2007.
  58. ^ Application Details FIDE
  59. ^ Snowflakes are fallin' on the Aeroflot Open 2007
  60. ^ Aeroflot Open 2007: Evgeny Alekseev wins in style
  61. ^ WGM Hou, Yifan aeroflotchess.com
  62. ^ Festival Internacional de Ajedrez "Ruy Lopez"
  63. ^ 1st Ruy Lopez International Festival
  64. ^ Women's Selective tournam - CHN - Tournament report
  65. ^ 8. RUS Team Women's Chmp. - Fide.com
  66. ^ Tomsk leads in the Russian Team Championships
  67. ^ 1st World Team Chess Championship (women) OlimpBase
  68. ^ China wins Women's Team Championship by two points
  69. ^ Hou Yifan at the World Women's Team Chess Championship OlimpBase.
  70. ^ Youngest Hou Yifan wins national chess title. Accessed June 19, 2007.
  71. ^ 2007 China Women's Indivi - CHN. FIDE.
  72. ^ North Urals Cup 2007
  73. ^ Zhu Chen wins North Urals Cup 2007
  74. ^ Stefanova leads in North Urals Cup 2007
  75. ^ TWIC
  76. ^ official website
  77. ^ Official UK-China Match Website
  78. ^ 2007 Women's Zonal 3.5 Ch - Tournament report
  79. ^ Linex and Monte-Carlo are European Team Champions
  80. ^ Everybody's there – at the European Club Cup in Turkey
  81. ^ China Wins Classic Chess Gold in Macau Asian Indoor Games
  82. ^ Hou Yifan at the Asian Indoor Games OlimpBase.
  83. ^ 2nd Asian Indoor Games: Macau 2007
  84. ^ Wijk R13: Aronian, Carlsen win Wijk aan Zee 2008. Accessed January 29, 2008.
  85. ^ Nepomniachtchi wins Aeroflot Open 2008
  86. ^ Yifan Hou scored GM norm at Aeroflot
  87. ^ Atatürk Istanbul: Hou Yifan wins Atatürk Masters
  88. ^ Atatürk International Women Masters Chess Tournament
  89. ^ Barden, Leonard (2008-03-29). "Chess". The Guardian. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  90. ^ Yifan Hou, a new chess star on the horizon
  91. ^ Requirements for the titles designated in 0.31
  92. ^ Second Ruy López International Chess Festival in Mérida
  93. ^ Michael Adams wins Second Ruy López International in Mérida
  94. ^ Chinese Championships TWIC
  95. ^ Tournament Report FIDE
  96. ^ Hou Yifan just misses GM Norm 19 July 2008
  97. ^ "World Junior Chess Championship Starting Rank List".
  98. ^ "World Junior Chess Championship Final Ranking".
  99. ^ "World Junior Chess Championship Norms".
  100. ^ WWCC - Nalchik 2008 - and now there are just four!, FIDE web site, September 9 2008
  101. ^ 1.0. Requirements for the titles designated in 0.31 FIDE Handbook
  102. ^ USCF. 1st World Mind Sports Games in China - July 24, 2008
  103. ^ Site officiel des 8èmes rencontres nationales et internationales d'Echecs - Cap d'Agde 2008
  104. ^ Chess Olympiad Dresden 2008, teams
  105. ^ Prodigy Girl Hou YiFan claimed Champion of National Chess Championships
  106. ^ Stars from the Chinese League
  107. ^ The lists are Top 100 players, Top 100 women, Top 20 juniors and Top 20 girls - http://ratings.fide.com/toplist.phtml
  108. ^ [3]
  109. ^ [4]
  110. ^ Rating progress chart for Hou Yifan. Accessed July 5, 2007.
  111. ^ a b c FIDE Ratings Chart
  112. ^ a b c Rating data for player Hou, Yifan, (CHN)
  113. ^ Elo rating with world rankings and historical development since 2004 for Hou, Yifan (benoni.de/schach/elo)
  114. ^ [5] [6]
  115. ^ Chessgames Chess.com
Preceded by Women's Chinese Chess Champion
2007, 2008
Succeeded by
Incumbent

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