Image: Wikimedia Commons, Mark Gluhovsky, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Champion 11
Xu Yuhua
A Chinese grandmaster who won the 2006 knockout title with mature practical play.
- Reign
- 2006-2008
- Country
- China
- Title Wins
- 2006
Bio
Xu Yuhua won the 2006 Women's World Championship knockout in Ekaterinburg. Her victory added another Chinese name to an increasingly powerful title tradition.
Xu's chess was practical and well balanced. She was comfortable entering strategic battles, but she also had the tactical accuracy required by knockout events.
Her title helped bridge the period between Xie Jun's pioneering era and the rise of Hou Yifan, showing that China's depth was not limited to one star.
Style
Balanced, practical, and steady under knockout pressure.
Legacy
Xu Yuhua strengthened China's status as the leading nation in modern women's championship chess.
Study Focus
Study how she keeps positions playable while waiting for tactical chances.
Sources
Last reviewed: May 21, 2026.