Oh yes, Edna, they never admit ignorance as an inspiration for their pedantry

Artwork © Imagination Color Lab LLC (@imagination_color_lab)

Meanings of Life

• Nicole, “Chinese Chess Queen 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): Splendour and Majesty on the Board”, Sportsoho, May 12, 2026

“I’ve always felt that chess is my passion, but not all my life. First and foremost, I am a person, and then a chess player. No matter what I get or don’t get — higher education is essential in life”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said.

All the Water on Earth

After all, Edna, no one is perfect, and to say it with Dylan, “You can’t be wise and in love at the same time”

Artwork © grim1978

A Queen on Stage

Saturdays in May

While ⅔ of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” chess students were in Cesenatico, Italy, to defend the colours of the Liceo scientifico statale Antonio Gramsci in the 30th edition of the Olympiads of Mathematics National Finals, Leone, a young prodigy violinist who astonished audiences everywhere by his wonderful playing, seemed glad that he did not miss his class today.

X – Y
Florence, May 9, 2026
r2q1k1r/ppp3p1/5b1p/3N3B/4P3/4B3/PPP3PP/R4QK1 b - - 0 16

Position after 16. ... c7-c6

In the position of diagram, White intended 17. Bc5+ Kg8 18. Nf4, which would undoubtedly win the day, but Leone was as proud as happy to “spot” a most delightful finish:
17. Bc5+ Kg8 18. Ne7+! 1–0. Black must choose between losing his Queen (18. ... Qxe7 19. Bxe7) or getting mated or both: 18. ... Kf8 (18. ... Bxe7 19. Qf7+ Kh7 20. Bg6#) 19. Qc4! g6 20. Qe6! with mate in a few moves to follow.

Love Is in the Air

Chungking Express

A Myanmar Miscellany

President of Myanmar Chess Federation, Maung Maung Lwin, poses for a souvenir picture with three Women’s World Chess Champions, from left to right: 谢军 (Xiè Jūn), 诸宸 (Zhū Chén), and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), against the background of the Asian Chess Leaders’ Summit in Singapore, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Photo: Maung Maung Lwin.

The Islands and the Sea

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) poses for a souvenir picture with Simon Chottu, President of the Solomon Islands Chess Federation, in the backstage of the Asian Chess Leaders’ Summit in Singapore, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Photo: SBM Online.

And yet, Edna, as a cynic would put it, the only thing one can save of such ceremonies and rituals is the giant cream cake

Artwork © Felipe Oliveira (@mrillustrated)

An Asian Arcady

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was one of the speakers at the Asian Chess Leaders’ Summit in Singapore, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Her vibrant speech was centred on the panel discussion: “Women in Chess — the Asian Story”.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), dressed in dark red with a white jacket, is standing on first row, fourth from right. Photo: Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein.

The King Hunt

• 张晰纯 (Stephy Zhāng), “China’s 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) a world chess champion who changes the rules and pushes the boundaries”, South China Morning Post, May 2, 2026

Resisting rigid career templates, four-time women’s world chess champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) balances a spontaneous lifestyle with clear-eyed purpose — from helping drive women’s competition reforms to her PhD research into the cognitive benefits of her game. [Read more].

“I won’t let my life be only about chess”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. Photo: Edmond So/South China Morning Post.

In Vogue

You know, Edna, your every wish is my command

Artwork © RarityMyLove

To Awaken Pegasus

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), a queen and her magic hippogriff. Photo: 動力國際體育公關公司/中國香港國際象棋總會 (ActionHouse International/Hong Kong Chess Federation) via We Sport Images.

Pearl of the Orient

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) attended a press conference held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, by the Organising Committee of the 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship, which will take place in Fragrant Harbour (Hong Kong), from June 17–21, 2026.

The queen of chess, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), elegantly dressed in black, greeted and blessed 香港 (Hong Kong), at its debut as a global chessboard: “It is not only a mere gathering of beautiful minds, but more importantly, it will raise chess to new heights of showmanship in Greater China, allowing more people to feel the charm and incantation of the noble game”. Photos: 杨功煜 (Yáng Gōngyù).

The Music of the Ocean

Chinese Glazes

A visitor takes close look at a 琺瑯彩 (fàlángcǎi) teapot during the media preview of Sotheby’s Hong Kong 2026 Asian Art Week in 香港 (Hong Kong), China. Photo: China News Service/Getty Images.

Five Nights in Chungking Mansions

WR Chess announces the “team” for the 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship scheduled in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, from June 17–21, 2026. They are namely (in alphabetical order): Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko, Jan Gustafsson (captain), 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein, Wesley So, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

Tulips and Irises

Spring tulips blooming at 中山公园 (Zhōngshān Park) in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images.

Well, Edna, as Stefan Zweig said, “for chess, like love, one needs a partner”

Artwork © Raegan (@raegan.sketches)

Pleiades

A Desert in Bloom

We had a stop for a coffee on the freeway Florence-Pisa-Livorno service area Q8 Titignano Nord. We always stop there when we go through such lands just to greet Maria, and to admire her orchids, which she, and only she succeeds in making bloom lushly all year round.

Furthermore, Edna, as John Brunner said, “—Among the other things lunatics make: their own version of truth”

Artwork © yungcrossing (@yungcrossing)