Full Name: Xu Yuhua
Peak FIDE Rating: 2517 (April 2006)
Active Since: 1990s
Federation: China
Player Description
Xu Yuhua is a Chinese chess Grandmaster known for his strong gameplay,deep calculations and endless mastery in end game.
A trailblazer for women in the sport, Xu Yuhua became the 12th Women’s World Chess Champion in 2006, adding her name to the distinguished line of Chinese champions who have dominated the women’s circuit since the 1990s.
Her playing style blends positional solidity with sudden tactical precision, a hallmark of the Chinese chess school. Xu is admired for her endgame mastery and ability to handle pressure in knockout formats, a skill that brought her success on the world stage. Off the board, she is known for balancing academic pursuits (holding a degree in Chinese literature) with her chess career, symbolizing intellect, discipline, and grace.
Career Scorecard:
World Championship Cycle Appearances:
2006 FIDE Women’s World Champion:
Won the knockout-format World Championship in Yekaterinburg, defeating Alisa Galliamova in the final.
Defended Title Participation (2008): Competed in the 2008 championship but lost her crown to Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Consistent World Championship Contender: Reached late stages in multiple World Championship cycles from 2000 to 2010.
Among the Few Chinese Female World Champions: Continued China’s legacy following Xie Jun and Zhu Chen, solidifying the nation’s dominance in women’s chess.
National championships
Women world cup twice 2000 and 2002
Fide women grand prix 2009-2011
Asian girl junior champion in 1996
Asian women champion in 1998
Olympiad Medals
As a member of the Chinese women’s team, she won three consecutive gold medals at the Chess Olympiads in 2000, 2002, and 2004.
Tournaments Won:
FIDE Women’s World Championship (2006, Yekaterinburg)
Asian Continental Women’s Championship – -2001 (Chennai, India)
Chinese Women’s National Championship- 2002 (Beijing)
Chinese National Team Championship -2003 (Shanghai)
FIDE Zonal Women’s Championship – 2005 (Beijing)
Memorable Games:
1. Xu Yuhua vs Alisa Galliamova, 2006 World Championship Final – A calm yet powerful positional squeeze that showcased her deep understanding of middlegame transitions.
2. Xu Yuhua vs Maia Chiburdanidze, 2002 Olympiad – A stunning win over a former world champion, reflecting her strategic maturity and endgame finesse.
3. Xu Yuhua vs Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2008 Championship – Though she lost the match, her preparation and counterplay in sharp lines demonstrated her fighting spirit and modern approach.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xu_Yuhua
https://thechesspedia.
net/xu-yuhua/
https://museum.fide.com/champions/xu-yuhua
Written by
Mohd Kamran Hasnain
