# Women's World Chess Championship 2006

The Women's World Chess Championship 2006 took place from March 10–27, 2006 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. For the fourth time, the championship took the form of a 64-player knock-out tournament.
The tournament was won by Xu Yuhua, who beat Alisa Galliamova in the final by 2½ to ½. Notably, Xu Yuhua was three months pregnant at the time.

## Participants

The players were seeded by their FIDE Elo ratings of January 2006, except that defending champion Antoaneta Stefanova was the no. 1 seed.
* Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL), 2499, GM (WC)
* Humpy Koneru (IND), 2537, GM (WC)
* Pia Cramling (SWE), 2515, GM (E04)
* Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS), 2514, GM (R)
* Maia Chiburdanidze (GEO), 2511, GM (WC)
* Xu Yuhua (CHN), 2502, WGM (R)
* Kateryna Lahno (UKR), 2500, IM (E05)
* Zhu Chen (CHN), 2482, GM (R)
* Nadezhda Kosintseva (RUS), 2480, IM (E05)
* Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi (IND), 2479, IM (Z3.2)
* Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS), 2479, IM (E04)
* Monika Soćko (POL), 2475, IM (E04)
* Viktorija Čmilytė (LTU), 2475, IM (E05)
* Zhao Xue (CHN), 2473, WGM (R)
* Qin Kanying (CHN), 2469, WGM (Z3.5)
* Alisa Galliamova (RUS), 2467, IM (R)
* Yelena Dembo (GRE), 2461, IM (E05)
* Almira Skripchenko (FRA), 2461, IM (E05)
* Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (RUS), 2458, IM (WC)
* Lilit Mkrtchian (ARM), 2453, IM (E05)
* Nana Dzagnidze (GEO), 2452, IM (E04)
* Irina Krush (USA), 2447, IM (Z2.1)
* Lela Javakhishvili (GEO), 2444, IM (E05)
* Natalia Zhukova (UKR), 2432, WGM (E04)
* Nino Khurtsidze (GEO), 2430, IM (E05)
* Svetlana Matveeva (RUS), 2428, IM (E05)
* Ekaterina Korbut (RUS), 2427, WGM (J04)
* Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (GEO), 2426, IM (E04)
* Elina Danielian (ARM), 2423, IM (E05)
* Elisabeth Pähtz (GER), 2422, IM (J05)
* Elena Zaiatz (RUS), 2422, IM (E05)
* Iweta Radziewicz (POL), 2421, IM (E05)
* Tatiana Kononenko (UKR), 2417, WGM (E05)
* Marie Sebag (FRA), 2415, IM (E05)
* Peng Zhaoqin (NED), 2407, GM (E04)
* Cristina Adela Foișor (ROM), 2402, IM (E04)
* Marta Zielińska (POL), 2398, WGM (E05)
* Anna Ushenina (UKR), 2398, WGM (E05)
* Irina Vasilevich (RUS), 2386, IM (E05)
* Wang Yu (CHN), 2385, WGM (AS)
* Shen Yang (CHN), 2380 (Z3.5)
* Irina Slavina-Turova (RUS), 2379, IM (E04)
* Claudia Amura (ARG), 2366, WGM (AM)
* Evgenija Ovod (RUS), 2366, IM (E05)
* Ruan Lufei (CHN), 2361 (Z3.5)
* Sulennis Piña (CUB), 2358, WGM (AM)
* Jovanka Houska (ENG), 2355, IM (E04)
* Carolina Luján (ARG), 2346, WGM (Z2.5)
* Maka Purtseladze (GEO), 2341, IM (E05)
* Dana Aketayeva (KAZ), 2330, WIM (Z3.4)
* Maria Kursova (RUS), 2319, WIM (PN)
* Atousa Pourkashiyan (IRI), 2319, WIM (Z3.1)
* Ju Wenjun (CHN), 2290 (AS)
* Subbaraman Meenakshi (IND), 2289, WGM (AS)
* Irina Berezina-Feldman (AUS), 2285, IM (Z3.6)
* Hou Yifan (CHN), 2269, WFM (Z3.5)
* Maritza Arribas (CUB), 2269, WGM (Z2.3)
* Karen Zapata (PER), 2218, WIM (Z2.4)
* Hoàng Xuân Thanh Khiết (VIE), 2196, WIM (Z3.3)
* Ingris Rivera (COL), 2128 (AM)
* Natalia Khoudgarian (CAN), 2106, WIM (Z2.2)
* Faridah Basta Sohair (EGY), 2083, WIM (AF)
* Tuduetso Sabure (BOT), 2072, WGM (AF)
* Amina Mezioud (ALG), 1978 (Z4.1)
Only two players from the top 20 were absent: Judit Polgár (ranked the no. 1 woman in the world – and 14th overall) who instead took part in the open championship events of 2005 and 2007, as well as Hoang Thanh Trang (ranked 11th).

### Qualification paths
## Results
### Final match

A fourth game was not played because Xu Yuhua led by two points after game three.
    Women's World Chess Championship Final 2006 1234Total  Alisa Galliamova (Russia) 0½0—½  Xu Yuhua (China) 1½12½

### Bracket

| 1st Round | 1st Round | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 3rd Round | 3rd Round | | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 44 | Evgenija Ovod | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Nana Dzagnidze | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Nana Dzagnidze | 4 | 21 | Nana Dzagnidze | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 53 | Ju Wenjun | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Monika Soćko | ½ | 53 | Ju Wenjun | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 53 | Ju Wenjun | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 53 | Ju Wenjun | 1½ | | | | 53 | Ju Wenjun | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Maia Chiburdanidze | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | Ingris Rivera | ½ | | | | | | | 5 | Maia Chiburdanidze | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Maia Chiburdanidze | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Maia Chiburdanidze | 1½ | 5 | Maia Chiburdanidze | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 28 | Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant | 2½ | 28 | Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Marta Zielińska | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Marta Zielińska | 1½ | | | | | | | | 5 | Maia Chiburdanidze | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Cristina Adela Foișor | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Elina Danielian | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Elina Danielian | 2½ | 29 | Elina Danielian | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2 | 4 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | Natalia Khoudgarian | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | Natalia Khoudgarian | 0 | | | | 4 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 52 | Atousa Pourkashiyan | ½ | | | | | | | 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 1½ | 13 | Viktorija Čmilytė | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 45 | Ruan Lufei | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Lilit Mkrtchian | 1½ | 45 | Ruan Lufei | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 45 | Ruan Lufei | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 45 | Ruan Lufei | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | Viktorija Čmilytė | ½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 1½ | | | | |
| 48 | Carolina Lujan | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 1½ | | | | |
| 17 | Yelena Dembo | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Yelena Dembo | ½ | 48 | Carolina Lujan | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 1½ | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | Maka Purtseladze | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | Maka Purtseladze | ½ | | | | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 32 | Iweta Radziewicz | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Amina Mezioud | ½ | | | | | | | 32 | Iweta Radziewicz | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Antoaneta Stefanova | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Antoaneta Stefanova | 1½ | 1 | Antoaneta Stefanova | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 32 | Iweta Radziewicz | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Iweta Radziewicz | 2 | 32 | Iweta Radziewicz | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Tatiana Kononenko | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Tatiana Kononenko | 0 | | | | | | | | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Nino Khurtsidze | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Wang Yu | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Nino Khurtsidze | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Nino Khurtsidze | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Nino Khurtsidze | 2½ | 25 | Nino Khurtsidze | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 57 | Maritza Arribas | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Zhu Chen | 0 | 57 | Maritza Arribas | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 57 | Maritza Arribas | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 57 | Maritza Arribas | 2 | | | | 25 | Nino Khurtsidze | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 56 | Hou Yifan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Hou Yifan | 1½ | | | | | | | 56 | Hou Yifan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Nadezhda Kosintseva | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Nadezhda Kosintseva | ½ | 56 | Hou Yifan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 24 | Natalia Zhukova | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Natalia Zhukova | 3½ | 24 | Natalia Zhukova | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 41 | Shen Yang | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 41 | Shen Yang | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Alisa Galliamova | ½ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 2½ |
| 42 | Irina Slavina-Turova | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 2½ |
| 23 | Lela Javakhishvili | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Lela Javakhishvili | 1½ | 23 | Lela Javakhishvili | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi | 1½ | 10 | Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Irina Berezina-Feldman | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Irina Berezina-Feldman | ½ | | | | 10 | Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Karen Zapata | 1½ | | | | | | | 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Kateryna Lagno | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Kateryna Lagno | ½ | 58 | Karen Zapata | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | 2 | 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Irina Vasilevich | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Irina Vasilevich | 0 | | | | | | | | 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | 1½ | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 34 | Marie Sebag | ½ | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Marie Sebag | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | 34 | Marie Sebag | ½ | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Elena Zaiatz | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Elena Zaiatz | ½ | 34 | Marie Sebag | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Humpy Koneru | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Humpy Koneru | 2 | 2 | Humpy Koneru | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 63 | Tuduetso Sabure | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 63 | Tuduetso Sabure | 0 | | | | 34 | Marie Sebag | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 15 | Qin Kanying | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 50 | Dana Aketayeva | ½ | | | | | | | 15 | Qin Kanying | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Qin Kanying | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Qin Kanying | 1½ | 15 | Qin Kanying | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 47 | Jovanka Houska | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Almira Skripchenko | ½ | 47 | Jovanka Houska | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Jovanka Houska | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Jovanka Houska | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | 26 | Svetlana Matveeva | ½ | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 1½ | | | | |
| 46 | Sulennis Piña | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 1½ | | | | |
| 19 | Ekaterina Kovalevskaya | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Ekaterina Kovalevskaya | 1½ | 19 | Ekaterina Kovalevskaya | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 51 | Maria Kursova | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Zhao Xue | ½ | 51 | Maria Kursova | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 51 | Maria Kursova | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 51 | Maria Kursova | 1½ | | | | 19 | Ekaterina Kovalevskaya | 2½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 35 | Peng Zhaoqin | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Faridah Basta Sohair | 0 | | | | | | | 35 | Peng Zhaoqin | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Pia Cramling | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Pia Cramling | 2 | 3 | Pia Cramling | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 35 | Peng Zhaoqin | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Elisabeth Pähtz | 2 | 35 | Peng Zhaoqin | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Peng Zhaoqin | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Peng Zhaoqin | 4 | | | | | | | | 19 | Ekaterina Kovalevskaya | 1½ | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 2½ | | | | | | | | |
| 38 | Anna Ushenina | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 2½ | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Ekaterina Korbut | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Ekaterina Korbut | 1 | 38 | Anna Ushenina | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Xu Yuhua | 1½ | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Hoàng Xuân Thanh Khiết | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Hoàng Xuân Thanh Khiết | ½ | | | | 6 | Xu Yuhua | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11 | Tatiana Kosintseva | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 54 | Subbaraman Meenakshi | 0 | | | | | | | 11 | Tatiana Kosintseva | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Tatiana Kosintseva | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Tatiana Kosintseva | 2 | 11 | Tatiana Kosintseva | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 22 | Irina Krush | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Irina Krush | 2½ | 22 | Irina Krush | ½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Claudia Amura | 1½ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |