2015 Women’s Chess Championship (Sochi, Russia)

After having difficulties in finding a sponsor, the 2015 Women’s World Championship is underway. Back in January, FIDE had announced that the games would be held in March. However the games will not feature the current World Champion Hou Yifan who is currently playing in the Hawaii Chess Festival. She will receive a chance to player the winner of this event by virtue of winning the FIDE Grand Prix.

Humpy Koneru is attempting to collect this illusive title.
Photo by B. Dolmatovsky.

The top seeds will be Humpy Koneru (India) and Ju Wenjun (China) with several former world champions such as Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Anna Ushenina (Ukraine). The Russians have brought a large contingent of players with ten players (including the young phenom Aleksandra Goryachkina) while Chinese have nine with most of their national team participating.

Since Hou has effectively vacated her title, there will be a new champion. Hou has decided to focus on playing the strongest competition and to join the 2700-club. No other player in this competition is 2600-level. It appears that the Chinese champion will remain active in the women’s circuit, but it remains to be seen whether any other woman will give her competition. It is unlikely that we will see 25-year dominance like Judit Polgar, but who will be likely to challenge Hou Yifan?

2015 Women World Chess Championship March 16th-April 7th, 2015

Coverage | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | | Semifinals | Finals |