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After a draw within the first sport, Gunina performed an enchanting knight sacrifice to open up Hou’s king. 

This started a stunning six-game profitable streak. In sport 4, regardless of shedding a chunk out of the opening, Gunina managed a comeback creating two vicious central passers that unsettled Hou’s total place as they rolled down the board. 

As commentator Kosteniuk said: “[Gunina] is able to getting again. You can by no means say the sport is over along with her till you see the purpose on the scoresheet.”

 You can by no means say the sport is over with [Gunina] till you see the purpose on the scoresheet.

-Alexandra Kosteniuk

Hou scored her first win within the final sport of the phase, utilizing insightful tactical play to win a pawn and acquire the initiative.

While the commentators nervous that the match can be very one-sided after Valentina’s big lead, gamers at Hou’s caliber do not get there with out being extremely resilient. A comeback was brewing within her. Hou continued to seek out her type within the 3+1 portion, profitable the primary two video games. In sport two, she created three unstoppable related handed pawns on the queenside. 

After a loss on time in a profitable place, Hou’s comeback continued with two extra wins, bringing the match inside two factors. In one beautiful sport, Hou ripped open Gunina’s kingside and chased her king to the queenside into checkmate.

Gunina completed the phase with a victory, discovering a tactic within the opening to win materials as a result of Hou’s misplaced queen. 

At this level, nevertheless, Hou had introduced Gunina’s lead all the way down to a single level. 

The first decisive sport of the 1+1 was in sport three when Hou’s items appeared to fly up the board on all sides to push Gunina’s again and win materials. 

Gunina struck again the following sport, using her king, rook, and knight to create a mating internet within the ending and rendering Hou’s queenside related handed pawns ineffective. 

Compared to the alternating landslides within the 5+1 and three+1 parts, the bullet portion was very shut, with the rating hovering between a tie and a one-point distinction for a lot of it. 

Hou took the lead for the primary time with seven minutes left on the match clock, trapping Gunina’s king with the complementary duo of queen and knight.

Trailing by a degree with lower than three minutes left on the match clock, Gunina discovered herself in a must-win place with the white items. Under such strain, Gunina blundered a knight fork. 

Hou’s comeback after six straight losses reveals the mark of a tremendous competitor. In her post-match interview, Hou shared her ideas about her efficiency: “To be sincere, I actually had no concept what was happening within the match as a result of I had a really poor begin. I missed a few superb positions, so I believed: it isn’t a match. It’s Valentina’s day. I attempted to combat again within the phase of three+1 whereas I simply determined to play one thing random, and one way or the other it labored… I felt like I used to be very fortunate to win a match that approach. It should not be like this.”

Hou earned $6,153.85 in prize cash for her victory, whereas Gunina took dwelling $1,846.15 for her efforts.

All Games – Semifinals