Chinese challenger Xie Jun ended six decades of Soviet domination of women's chess by defeating Soviet world champion Maya Chiburdanidze in a 16-game contest for the world title in Manila, Philippines.
As reported by Reuters, Xie drew the 15th game in 62 moves, giving her a winning 8 1/2-6 1/2 lead over Chiburdanidze, who had held the title for 13 years since winning it in 1978. The first player to score 8 1/2 points wins the title.Xie is the first Asian to win the world chess title, breaking a 64-year hold by Soviet women over the crown.
Xie is a 20-year-old sports student from Beijing. She battled back from a one-game deficit early in the match to defeat the champion from the Soviet Republic of Georgia.
Chiburdanidze, 31, had defended the title she won from fellow Soviet Nona Gaprindashvili four times.
After Xie made her 62nd move, Chiburdanidze stood up and shook her hand. The playing hall broke into a round of applause.
Asked to comment, Xie said that she was very tired and pleased. "I am confident of having a good game today. This victory means a grand celebration for my birthday," which was Wednesday. Xie's coach, Qi Jing Zuan, said he was relieved. "The situation was tense throughout. Miss Xie struggled to get the precious draw."
The 16-game match began September 26.
- UTAH CLASSIC - The annual Utah Open Championship Tournament is set for November 15-17. It will be held at the Airport Inn International, 2333 W. North Temple.
The tournament will be in three sections: Open - open to all players; Reserve - open to players with a U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) rating under 1800; Novice - open to players with a USCF rating under 1400.
Fees for the tournament will be: Open, $20; Reserve, $15; and Novice, $10. These fees must be paid in advance. They will be raised by $10 and $5 if paid at the time of registration at tournament time.
Players under 20 years of age pay $5 less for all sections.
Entries should be mailed to Vern Smith, Utah Chess Association Treasurer, 3665 W. Ridgecrest Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84118.
Mike Bond will serve as tournament director. The tournament is being sponsored by the Utah Chess Association (UCA).
Queries for additional information should be directed to John Minnoch at (801) 825-2689 (in Roy).
Rounds for the Open section will be: Nov. 15 at 1 and 7 p.m.; Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Time control: 40 moves in two hours.
Rounds for the Reserve section will be: Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 16 at 10 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. Time control: Game in 100 minutes.
Rounds for the Novice section will be: Nov. 16 at 10 a.m., 1,3 and 6 p.m. Time control: Game in 60 minutes.
There will be prizes for many classifications with an overall first prize of $400 guaranteed, 2nd prize overall of $100 guaranteed.
A half-point bye will be available for any rounded if requested at registration time.
This is a no-smoking tournament.
The Utah Chess Association will hold its annual meeting Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.
- THE WINNAH! - World Champion Gary Kasparov rounded off an impressive victory in the Interpolis Tilburg Tournament, Netherlands, by defeating his old and longtime rival, Anatoly Karpov.
Karpov's first tournament win of 1991 became certain when chasing the India grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, who unexpectedly lost an adjourned endgame against Gita Kamsky.
"Kasparov has won this tournament convincingly. It is a very strong tournament," Jon Speelman, British grandmaster told Reuters, which reported the tournament.
Kasparov, 28, lost only once, to Anand, and racked up seven wins and six draws to score 10 points out of a possible 14.
The final score points were: Kasparov, 10; Short, 8 1/2; Anand, 8; Karpov, 7 1/2; Kamsky, 7; Timman, 6 1/2; Korchnoi, 51/2; and Bareyev, 3.
- CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SOLVERS! - Eugene Wagstaff, Garry B. Wilmore, Ardean Watts, Gottfried Steuri, Allan Schow, Chris Schow, Richard Schow, Vern Smith, Edwin O. Smith, Elizabeth Ricks, Daniel Ricks, Jim Reed, Ben J. Petersen, Knute Petersen, Ted Pathakis, A.R. Peabody, Elsa L. Oldroyd, Gary Neumann, Roger Neumann, Alex Markec, Kay Lundstrom, Hal Knight, David D. Kirk, Nathan Kennard, Stephen Kennard, Raeburn Kennard, Monroe Iversen, Stanley Hunt, Hal Harmon, Alison Hermance, Alex Hart, Brian Harrow, Peter Gafner, Gordon W. Greene, Ken Frost, William DeVroom, George L. Cavanaugh, Jack Crandall, Justin Christiansen, Corey Christiansen, Barney Christiansen, O. Kent Berg, Kim Barney, Craig Bryson, Kelly Bryson and Roland Brimley.