Women's World Championship: Hou Yifan Wins Game 7, Reclaims Title
In writing about the Women's World Championship, I was always careful not to write "a ten-game match" but a "best-of-ten-game match". With her win in game 7 - the first win for either player in the match with the white pieces(!) - Hou Yifan defeated incumbent champion Anna Ushenina to reclaim the crown she held from 2010 to 2012. Her 5.5-1.5 victory took only one game longer than the minimum, and showed that she is the one to beat when it comes to the women's title.
Unfortunately, that isn't the same as saying that she's the strongest female player in the world. It isn't her fault that Judit Polgar has embargoed women's events since 1988 (I think), but it's still an unfortunate state of affairs. It would be nice if a sponsor arranged for a match between Hou and Polgar, even if it isn't officially for the title. In the meantime, the 19-year-old Hou is a deserving champion who will hold the title until at least October of 2014, when (sigh) the next championship event is...another knockout tournament.