Women's World Champion #11
2006–2008
China
Xu Yuhua
Won the title while several months pregnant — one of the most unusual champion stories in chess history.
Photo: Mark Gluhovsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Biography
Born in 1976, Xu Yuhua won the 2006 knockout Women's World Championship in Ekaterinburg, Russia, reportedly while several months pregnant — a detail that drew significant media attention at the time.
She held the title until 2008, when Alexandra Kosteniuk won the next knockout championship.
Playing Style
A composed, resilient competitor under the pressure of knockout-format play.
Notable Games
2006 Women's World Championship
The tournament win that made her champion, widely reported at the time for the remarkable circumstances surrounding it.
Fun Facts
- Her pregnancy during the winning tournament remains one of the most unusual and widely discussed personal stories among all Women's World Champions.