The Apple and the Butterfly

Echoes from the Past

The Other Hong Kong Report

The outlet RookReview announced that three-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina will replace four-time Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in WR Chess Team.

Here is a picture taken on June 27, 2024 in Moscow, Russia, showing Goryachkina, Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno chatting away. One may just wonder in passing in what language they communicated with each other. Photo: Sergey Sergeevich Moiseev.

Unforeseeable Chinas

Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein, CEO of WR Group, announced today that:

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will unfortunately be unable to join WR Chess Team for the upcoming competition in 香港 (Hong Kong)“.

Hit parade

The Odd Couple

Playtime

After all, the most important thing one can do to prepare for the week ahead — the last week of school before graduation — is to play Saturday afternoon at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”.

One & Two

No, Edna, ain’t no sense in skipping dessert just when you can eat all you can

Artwork © non poppins for PIXAR (@nonpop_pixar)

Saturday Night Fever

The celebration of 21st Asian Chess Championship included a gala dinner in honour of a queen who does not fear comparison with the goddess Caïssa. Pictured from left to right are: Deputy Vice President of Mongolian Chess Federation Khurelbaatar Batchuluun, actress and director Undarmaa Gonchig, Woman Grandmaster Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul, General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al Taher, and four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 30, 2026. Photo: Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul.

Queen of Borjigin

Four-time Women’s Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) poses for a souvenir picture with Kharuul Kharuul, a teacher and aide of Govisümber’s “Kings of Borjigin” chess club, against the background of Round 3 of 21st Asian Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026. Photo: Page Newspaper.

Keeping Cool

Monkeys cool off in a pool at a zoo in 郑州 (Zhèngzhōu), China, after high temperatures led authorities to issue an orange alert, in 河南省 (Hénán province). Photo: 马健 (Mǎ Jiàn)/VCG/Getty Images.

On Wings of Pegasus

Less than two weeks are left before the queen and king of chess, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Magnus Carlsen, make their grand debut at 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, on June 16–22, 2026. Playbill: 香港棋藝青訓學院 (Hong Kong Chess Academy).

Minister Without Portfolio

I never read about German-born Argentinian chess Grandmaster Hermann Pilnik serving as Ministro de Salud de Chile (nor is he apparently enlisted as such), except in a book by Larry Evans, Jeremy Silman, and Betty Roberts, entitled How to Get Better at Chess. Chess Masters on Their Art (Summit Books, New York, 1991, p. 200):

Pilnik emigrated from Germany to Argentina in 1930, where he lived about forty years, followed by a ten year sojourn in Chile as Minister of Health. He then went to Venezuela, where he wrote a newspaper column, taught chess and was a professor at the Military Academy.

Further information required.

Idyll of the White Lotus

Pictured standing, from left, are General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al Taher, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Mongolia 沈敏娟 (Shěn Mǐnjuān), four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and President of Mongolian Chess Federation Gombojavyn Zandanshatar officiating the kick-off ceremonies for Round 3 of 21st Asian Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026. Photos: 中华人民共和国驻蒙古国大使馆 (Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mongolia).

Well, Edna, it is like Jupiter gave a ride to a Venus that looked like you

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

Candyfloss

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) as special guest commentator in Round 3 of 21st Asian Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026, 2026.Photos: Asian Chess Federation.

課後 (After School)

Pro Counter-Strike player and FIDE chess Master Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren takes lessons and advice from four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026. Photo: The MongolZ.

Queen of Gobi Desert

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and President of Mongolian Chess Federation Gombojavyn Zandanshatar as guests at the livestream of 21st Asian Chess Championship which is currently underway in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from May 28 to June 7, 2026.

Sketches of Sunday

Trees and fairies in Piazza della Costituzione at San Donnino, Campi Bisenzio, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy.

Lifestyles

Lost & Found

Il balen del suo sorriso d’una stella vince il raggio! Il fulgor del suo bel viso nuovo infonde a me coraggio! The flash of her smile outdoes the beam from a star! The brightness of her beautiful face inspires me with fresh daring! 她的微笑光辉照耀 胜过星辰的光芒！ 她的美貌散发的光芒 赋予了我新的勇气！ Il trovatore (II, 3)

Imaginary Conversations

Friend zone

Jammin’