Game of the Week: Hou yifan, Girya

As the dominant male in the chess world, Magnus Carlsen, racked up another tournament victory in the Gashimov Memorial, World Champion Hou Yifan confirmed that she is the dominant female with a convincing victory in the Women’s Grand Prix in Khanty Mansiysk. Her score of 8 ½ out of 11 put her a point and a half clear of the field. The result of the second place finisher, however, was a surprise. Despite being one of the tournament’s lowest rated competitors, the 22-year old Russian WGM Olga Girya notched 7 points and an apparent grandmaster norm. With a highly successful youth career behind her, Girya looks to have a promising future. But in this week’s feature game, Hou Yifan sends the message that she herself owns the present.