Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, despite playing with the black pieces, beat her 14-year-old Chinese opponent Hou Yi Fan in the first game to take an early lead in the four game final of the Womens World Chess Championship.

GM-elect Hou (2557) - GM Kosteniuk (2510) [C88]
WWC - Nalchik, 14.09.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 Bg4 10.d3 Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.h3 Bd7 13.d4 Qc7 14.d5 c4 15.Nbd2 Nb7 16.Nf1 Nc5 17.g4 h5 18.N3h2 hxg4 19.hxg4 Qc8 20.f3 Nh7 21.Ng3 Bg5 22.Nf5 Qd8 23.Kg2 g6 24.Ng3 Kg7 25.Rh1 Rh8 26.Nhf1 Qf6 27.Be3 Bxe3 28.Nxe3 Ng5 29.Qe2 Rag8 30.Raf1 Qf4 31.Rxh8 Rxh8 32.Rh1 Rxh1 33.Nxh1 Nd3 34.Bxd3 cxd3 35.Qf2 d2 36.Ng3 Nxf3 37.Qxf3 Bxg4 38.Qf2 d1Q 39.Nxd1 Bxd1 40.Qe1 Bf3+ 41.Kg1 f5 42.exf5 gxf5 43.Qf2 Kg6 44.b3 e4 45.c4 bxc4 46.bxc4 Qg5 47.c5 f4 48.cxd6 fxg3 0–1

Schedule of Play

Sunday 14 September
Round 6, game 1, 15.00 (GMT +3)

Monday 15 September
Round 6, game 2, 15.00 (GMT +3)

Tuesday 16 September
Round 6, game 3, 15.00 (GMT +3)

Wednesday 17 September
Round 6, game 4, 15.00 (GMT +3)

Thursday 18 September
Tiebreaks/Closing Ceremony

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