Romeo and Juliet

Heinz Schaufelberger – Roberto Cosulich
2nd International Festival; Verona, April 1976
Queen’s Indian Defence E14

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. b3 d5 8. Bb2 dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Rfd1 Rfd8 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. Bb1 cxd4 15. exd4 Qf4 16. Ne4. International Master Dieter Keller, in his comments for Neue Zürcher Zeitung, No. 123, May 28, 1976, p. 77, suggested 16. Nf1 as better, preventing Black from playing ... Nc6xd4.
16. ... Nxe4. Critical is 16. ... Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Nxe4 18. g3 Qxf2+! (obviously, 18. ... Qe5?? 19. Nc6 loses on the spot) 19. Qxf2 Nxf2 20. Kxf2 Bg5! with unclear but balanced play.
17. Bxe4 Bf6 18. g3 Qg4 19. d5

19. ... Bxb2? This is the decisive mistake. Black should have played 19. ... exd5 20. cxd5 (20. Bxf6 Re8! 21. cxd5 Rxe4 is good for Black) 20. ... Ne5! which, apparently, holds everything together.
20. dxc6 Bxc6. If 20. ... Bxc1 then 21. cxb7 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Rb8 23. Qd7 winning at once.
21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1. The back-rank mate threats give White easy ways to win the day.
23. ... Bd5! An ingenious trick that at least saves the piece, if not the game.

24. Qa4! Just so. 24. cxd5? Qxe4 25. dxe6 Bf6 26. Qd6 fxe6! 27. Qb8+ Kf7 28. Qxa7+ Kg6 would leave White empty handed.
24. .. b5 25. Qxb5 Ba3 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Qxd5. Threatening Qd5xf7+. Whether or not Black exchanges Queens, White’s extra Pawn and initiative would win easily in the endgame.
27. ... Qc8 28. Ne5 Qf8 29. Kg2 g6 30. h3 Qe7 31. Nc6 Qb7 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Qd4+ Kg8 34. Qd5 Bf8 35. a4 Qb6 36. Ne5 Qc7 37. Nd7 Be7 38. c5 Qd8 39. c6 1–0.

BrandED

Vanishing Point

He is almost a double of six-time Italian Chess Vice Champion Roberto Cosulich, but the sign in the background that reads “Il Ciocco. Chess ’74. International Festival” raises a question about it, since Cosulich — as far as I know — did not take part in the inaugural International Festival at Il Ciocco International Tourist and Conference Centre in Castelvecchio Pascoli, Italy, on February 2–9, 1974. Can any reader provide more information about it? Photo: Il Ciocco.

The Movie Issue

Building the Future

Palmistry

To Each His Own

The following game was originally made public by Massimiliano Enzo Maria Orsi on his own website Italian Castling, which features a constantly updated archive of Italian chess history. The game is all the more interesting because it confirms, once again, that Roberto Cosulich was a bête noire to the American Stuart Wagman.

Roberto Cosulich – Stuart Wagman
4th International Open; Rovigo, September 7, 1976
Sicilian Defence B76

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Bc4 0-0 8. f3 Nc6 9. Bb3 Bd7 10. Qe2!? Cosulich is already out of the ordinary. 10. Qd2 is mainstream theory.
10. ... a6 11. 0-0-0

11. ... Qc7? The bet worked. The move in the text allows White’s attack to spread its wings and hit hard. 11. ... Na5! 12. Qd3 b5 was satisfactory for Black in Sax – Velimirović, 1st “Tungsram” International Tournament, Budapest 1973.
12. g4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3 Be6 15. h4 b5 16. h5 Bc4. Time did not bring any improvement: 16. ... b4 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Rfc8 20. Qh2 Bf8 21. Kb1 Rab8 22. f4 Rb7 23. f5 Qc4 24. Qg2 Rbc7 25. Rh2 Rb8 26. Qh1 Rbb7 27. b3 Qc6 28. fxg6 fxg6 29. hxg6 Qe8 30. Rh5 Rg7 31. gxh7+ Rxh7 32. Rd2 Rxh5 33. gxh5 Rh7 34. Rh2 Bg7 35. h6 Bf6 36. Qf1 Rf7 37. Rg2+ Kh7 38. Rf2 Qe6 39. Bg5 Kg6 40. Bxf6 1–0 Starostits – Eusebe, 1st International Open, Angers 2006.
17. Qh2 Rab8 18. Bg5 Rfc8 19. Qh4 Bxb3 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxf6 b4 22. h6 Kf8 23. axb3 bxc3 24. Qxd6+ Qxd6 25. Rxd6 cxb2+ 26. Kxb2 1–0. Black’s Pawns fall like ripe pears.

Random Graphs

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-01"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nxe5 7.dxe5 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bc5 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 f5 11.Rb1 b6 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Be6 14.f4 d4 15.Rh3 Rf7 16.c4 Qe7 17.Kh1 Qc5 18.Qe2 Re8 19.Rf1 g6 20.Rhf3 Qa5 21.a3 Qc5 22.Ra1 Bd7 23.h4 Kh8 24.Rg3 Rg7 25.h5 Qe7 26.hxg6 Rxg6 27.Rxg6 hxg6 28.Kg1 Kg7 29.Qf2 c5 30.a4 Bc6 31.a5 Rh8 32.axb6 axb6 33.Qg3 Kf7 34.Kf2 Rh4 35. Ra6 Rg4 36.Qh3 Rxg2+ 37.Kf1 Kg7 38.Rxb6 Qc7 39.Rxc6 Qxc6 40.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 41. Kxg2 g5 42.fxg5 Kg6 43.e6 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-02"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "163"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O Be7 6.c4 O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 d6 9.Re1 Nd7 10.d5 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 e5 12.b4 f5 13.a4 a5 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.Nb5 Nc5 16.Qc2 Bc8 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.Ra2 e4 19.Ra3 Bf6 20.Nb3 Nxb3 21.Qxb3 Re8 22.Rd1 Qc8 23.Qb4 Be5 24.Qd2 Qd8 25.Qb4 h6 26.Rf1 Re7 27.Kh1 Bf6 28.Rb3 Be8 29. Rc1 Qa8 30.Ra3 Bxb5 31.cxb5 Qxd5 32.f3 Qd4 33.Qb3+ Kh8 34.fxe4 fxe4 35.e3 Qb2 36.Rb1 Qxb3 37.Rbxb3 Ra8 38.Rb1 Kg8 39.Rd1 Kf7 40.Kg1 Re5 41.Rd4 Rae8 42.Bf1 Rc5 43.Rc4 Be7 44.Rxe4 d5 45.Rf4+ Kg8 46.Rd3 Bd6 47.Rf5 Re5 48.Rxe5 Bxe5 49.Bg2 Rc1+ 50.Kf2 Rc2+ 51.Kf1 Rc1+ 52.Ke2 Ra1 53.Bxd5+ Kf8 54.Bb3 Rh1 55.Kf3 Rxh2 56.Rd7 Bd6 57.Rf7+ Ke8 58.g4 Rb2 59.Be6 Rb4 60.Rf5 Rxa4 61.Bd5 Ra1 62.Bc6+ Ke7 63.g5 Rf1+ 64.Ke4 Rxf5 65.Kxf5 h5 66.Bf3 h4 67.Kg4 Bg3 68.Bc6 Kd6 69.e4 Ke5 70.Kf3 Kd4 71.Kg4 Ke5 72.g6 Kf6 73.Be8 Be1 74.Kh3 Ke5 75.Bc6 Kf4 76.Bd5 Kg5 77.Bf7 Bg3 78.Be8 Kf4 79.Bc6 Kf3 80.e5+ Kf4 81. e6 Kg5 82.e7 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-03"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Bc5 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 c6 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Re8 13.Bg5 Bf8 14.Qh4 Be7 15.Bf6 Bxf6 16.exf6 Re6 17.Rxe6 Bxe6 18.f4 Kh8 19.Re1 d4 20.Bxg6 fxg6 21. Rxe6 dxc3 22.h3 Qd1+ 23.Kh2 Qh5 24.Qe1 g5 25.Qxc3 Kg8 26.Re7 Qh4 27.Rg7+ Kh8 28.g3 Qh5 29.Re7 Kg8 30.f7+ Kf8 31.Qc5 Qf3 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-04"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O e6 5.c4 Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Re1 c5 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc8 11.Be3 a6 12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Red1 Rfe8 15.h3 Rac8 16.b3 Qb8 17.Rc2 Qa8 18.Bc1 Bf8 19.Ba3 Nc5 20.Re1 d5 21.e5 Nfe4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23.Rd1 Nd3 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.Qh5 Rc5 26.Qg5 Nxe5 27.Qe3 Re8 28. Rcd2 Nd3 29.Ne2 f5 30.Nf4 Nxf4 31.Qxf4 Bc6 32.Bf1 h6 33.b4 e3 34.fxe3 e5 35.Qf2 Kh7 36.bxc5 bxc5 37.Rd6 Be4 38.Bg2 Rb8 39.Bxe4 Qxe4 40.Rf1 Qxc4 41. Qxf5+ Kh8 42.Qxe5 Qc2 43.Rxh6+ 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-05"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "114"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Bc5 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 f5 11.Rb1 b6 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Be6 14.f4 Qe7 15.Kh1 Qc5 16.Rh3 Rf7 17.Be2 Rd8 18.Rd3 c6 19.Qd2 Rfd7 20.a4 Qa5 21.Rd4 g6 22.h3 Rc7 23.Qe1 Rdc8 24.Bd3 Qc5 25.Rdb4 Rd8 26.Qh4 Qe7 27.Qf2 c5 28.R4b2 d4 29.c4 Kh8 30.Qe1 g5 31.fxg5 Qxg5 32.a5 Rg7 33.Qf2 Bc8 34.axb6 Bb7 35. Bf1 a6 36.Rb3 f4 37.Kh2 Qxe5 38.Re1 Qd6 39.Kh1 Rdg8 40.Rf3 Bxf3 41.Qxf3 Qxb6 42.Qxf4 Qc6 43.Qf2 a5 44.Ra1 a4 45.Ra3 Qa8 46.Kh2 Rf8 47.Qe1 Qb8+ 48. Kg1 Qb2 49.Rxa4 Qxc2 50.Ra5 Qc3 51.Qxc3 dxc3 52.Ra1 Rg3 53.Rc1 Re3 54.Kh2 Rf2 55.Kg1 Rd2 56.Ra1 c2 57.Rc1 Rc3 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-06"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlayCount "78"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Nc3 b6 9.O-O Ba6 10.Nd4 O-O 11.Nxc6 dxc6 12.Qa4 Bb7 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.Qxc6 Rc8 15.Qa4 Qc7 16.b3 Qb7 17.Ba3 h5 18.h4 Ng4 19.Nb5 a6 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.Bxd6 Rfd8 22.Bf4 e5 23.Bg5 f6 24.Bc1 b5 25.Qb4 Qe4 26.Qe1 bxc4 27.bxc4 Rxc4 28. Ba3 Rc2 29.Rd1 Rxd1 30.Qxd1 Rxe2 31.Bc5 Kh7 32.a3 Rc2 33.Bf8 Rc7 34.Qd8 Rc2 35.Qd7 Qg6 36.Qa4 Ne3 37.Re1 Ng4 38.Qxa6 Nxf2 39.Re3 Ng4 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-07"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C26"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nge2 O-O 6.O-O a6 7.h3 Re8 8.Kh2 d6 9.d3 Nd4 10.f4 Nxe2 11.Qxe2 h6 12.f5 c6 13.g4 d5 14.g5 hxg5 15.Bxg5 d4 16. Nd1 Be7 17.Bd2 Nh7 18.Rg1 Bg5 19.Bf3 Qf6 20.Nf2 Qh6 21.Ng4 Bf4+ 22.Bxf4 Qxf4+ 23.Rg3 Kf8 24.Rf1 Nf6 25.Nxf6 gxf6 26.Qg2 Ke7 27.Bh5 Qh6 28.Bxf7 Kxf7 29.Rg6 Qh8 30.Rg1 Ke7 31.Rg7+ Kd6 32.Qg6 Bd7 33.Qxf6+ Kc5 34.b4+ Kb6 35.Qd6 Qh4 36.Qxd7 Qf2+ 37.R1g2 Qf4+ 38.Kg1 Qc1+ 39.Kh2 Qf4+ 40.Kg1 Qc1+ 41.Kh2 Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-08"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.d4 e6 5.a3 g6 6.g3 Bg7 7.Bg2 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.O-O O-O 10.Bf4 d6 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.b4 a5 13.Qb3 Qb8 14.Rfd1 axb4 15.axb4 Qb7 16.Ra1 Rxa1 17.Rxa1 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Bxg2 19.Bh6 Re8 20.f3 e5 21.Nb5 Bh3 22.Ra7 Qb8 23.Rxc7 Be6 24.Qd3 Qa8 25.Ra7 Qc6 26.Nxd6 Ra8 27.b5 Qc5+ 28.Be3 Rxa7 29.Bxc5 Nxc5 30.Qc3 Nd7 31.c5 bxc5 32.Ne4 c4 33.b6 Nxb6 34.Qxe5 Nd7 35.Nf6+ Nxf6 36.Qb8+ Kg7 37.Qxa7 Nd7 38.Qd4+ Kg8 39.e4 h5 40.f4 Kf8 41.Kg2 Ke7 42.h3 Nf6 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 Nxg4 45.Qc5+ Kf6 46.Kg3 Nh6 47.Qe5+ Ke7 48.Qg5+ 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-09"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Re1 e5 6.c3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qxd4 Bf6 12.Qd3 Ne7 13.Nc3 O-O 14.e5 Qe6 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.exd6 Nf5 17.Bf4 g5 18.Be5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Nxd6 20.Rxg5+ Kh8 21.Rd1 Nc4 22.b3 f6 23.Rc5 Ne5 24.f4 Ng6 25.Rd7 Rac8 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Nd5 Rc1+ 28.Kf2 Rd1 29.g3 f5 30.Ke2 Rd4 31.Ke3 Rd1 32.Nf6 Rxd7 33.Nxd7 Kg7 34. Kd4 Kh6 35.Kd5 Kh5 36.Nf6+ Kh6 37.Ke6 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-10"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "98"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O O-O 7.Qc2 d6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Qxc3 e5 10.d3 Nbd7 11.b4 Re8 12.Bb2 Qc8 13.Rfc1 a5 14.e4 c5 15.Ne1 Nf8 16.Nc2 Ne6 17.Qd2 Qc7 18.Bc3 Nd4 19.Rcb1 Nxc2 20.Qxc2 Bc6 21.Ra2 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa2 23.Qxa2 Ra8 24.Qb2 Nd7 25.b5 Bb7 26.f4 f6 27.Bh3 Nf8 28.Rf1 Qb8 29.g4 Bc8 30.f5 h6 31.Bg2 Ra7 32.Ra1 Qa8 33.Rxa7 Qxa7 34.h4 g5 35.fxg6 Nxg6 36.Qf2 Nf4 37.Bd2 Nxg2 38.Kxg2 Qg7 39.g5 hxg5 40.hxg5 fxg5 41.Qg3 g4 42.Qh4 Qf8 43.Qg5+ Kf7 44.Qh5+ Ke7 45.Bg5+ Kd7 46.Qh7+ Ke8 47.Qh5+ Kd7 48. Qh7+ Ke8 49.Qh5+ Kd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-11"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C20"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "35"]

1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.exd6 Bxd6 7.Bd3 Nc5 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nc3 Rb8 12.Bf3 Qf6 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Qe2 Qg6 15. Bh5 Qf6 16.Bf3 Qg6 17.Bh5 Qf6 18.Bf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-12"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O c5 5.c4 e6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Be7 8.Rd1 O-O 9.Nc3 d6 10.b3 Nbd7 11.Bb2 a6 12.e4 Qc7 13.Rac1 Rac8 14.Qe3 Rfe8 15. Nd4 Qb8 16.Na4 Qa8 17.Re1 Bd8 18.Ba3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 bxc5 20.Nc2 Be7 21.Bb2 Nd7 22.f4 Red8 23.Re2 h6 24.Rd1 Bf6 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.Ne1 a5 27.Nd3 a4 28. bxa4 Qxa4 29.Rb1 Bc6 30.e5 dxe5 31.Nxe5 Bxg2 32.Kxg2 Nd7 33.Nf3 Qxc4 34. Rb7 Qd5 35.Ra7 Nf6 36.Qe5 c4 37.Qxd5 exd5 38.Ne5 d4 39.Nxf7 d3 40.Ree7 d2 41.Nxd8 Rxd8 42.Rxg7+ Kh8 43.Rg6 d1=Q 44.Rxh6+ Kg8 45.Rg6+ Kh8 46.Rh6+ Kg8 47.Rg6+ Kh8 48.Rh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-13"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C26"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "148"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nge2 O-O 6.O-O a5 7.h3 Re8 8.Kh2 Nd4 9.d3 c6 10.f4 d5 11.fxe5 Rxe5 12.Bf4 Rh5 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Qd2 Qd7 15. Kh1 Qd8 16.h4 Ng4 17.Bg5 Qd6 18.Qf4 Qg6 19.exd5 Be5 20.Be4 f5 21.Bxf5 Bxf5 22.Qxf5 Qxf5 23.Rxf5 h6 24.dxc6 hxg5 25.cxb7 Rb8 26.Re1 Bxg3 27.Re7 Rxh4+ 28.Kg1 Rh2 29.Rxg5 Bf2+ 30.Kf1 Ne3+ 31.Rxe3 Bxe3 32.Rb5 Rxc2 33.Nd5 Bd4 34.b3 Rc5 35.Ne7+ Kf7 36.Rxc5 Bxc5 37.Nc6 Rxb7 38.Nd8+ Ke7 39.Nxb7 Bb4 40. d4 Ke6 41.Nc5+ Bxc5 42.dxc5 Kd5 43.a3 Kxc5 44.b4+ axb4 45.axb4+ Kxb4 46. Kg2 Kc5 47.Kg3 Kd6 48.Kg4 Ke7 49.Kg5 Kf7 50.Kf5 Kf8 51.Kg5 Kg8 52.Kf5 Kh8 53.Kg5 Kh7 54.Kh5 g6+ 55.Kg5 Kg7 56.Kg4 Kf6 57.Kf4 g5+ 58.Kg4 Kg6 59.Kg3 Kh6 60.Kg4 Kg6 61.Kg3 Kf5 62.Kf3 g4+ 63.Kg3 Kg5 64.Kg2 Kf4 65.Kf2 g3+ 66. Kg2 Kg4 67.Kg1 Kh4 68.Kg2 Kg4 69.Kg1 Kf3 70.Kf1 Ke3 71.Kg2 Kf4 72.Kg1 Kf3 73.Kf1 g2+ 74.Kg1 Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-14"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 e6 6.O-O Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 O-O 9.Rd1 d6 10.b3 Nbd7 11.e4 a6 12.Ba3 Nc5 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxe5 Qc7 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Bb2 Rad8 17.Qe3 h6 18.b4 Ncd7 19.a3 Nxe5 20.Qxe5 Qc6 21.Rac1 Rxd1+ 22.Nxd1 Rd8 23.Ne3 Bd6 24.Qd4 Be7 25.Qe5 Bd6 26.Qc3 Rc8 27.Ng4 Be7 28.Qd4 Rd8 29.Qf4 Nxg4 30.Qxg4 Bf8 31.Bd4 f5 32.Qf4 Be7 33.h4 Kf7 34.Qe3 b5 35. cxb5 Qxb5 36.Rc7 Rd7 37.Rc8 Qd5 38.Bc5 Qb7 39.Rh8 Rd1+ 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-15"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "126"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nge2 O-O 6.O-O a5 7.h3 Re8 8.d3 Nd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.Ne2 Bb6 11.Kh1 h6 12.f4 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.fxe5 Rxe5 15.d4 Ne3 16.Bxe3 Rxe3 17.Qd2 Re7 18.Rae1 c6 19.c3 Be6 20.b3 Bd5 21.Nf4 Bxg2+ 22.Kxg2 a4 23.Rxe7 Qxe7 24.Re1 Qg5 25.b4 Bc7 26.Qf2 Rd8 27.Re4 Qf5 28.Qe2 Kh7 29.a3 Bxf4 30.Rxf4 Qd5+ 31.Qe4+ Qxe4+ 32.Rxe4 Rd7 33.Kf3 Kg6 34.c4 f5 35.Rf4 Kf6 36.g4 g6 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.Ke3 Rg7 39.Rf3 Rg1 40.Kf4 Rd1 41.Ke3 Re1+ 42.Kd3 Ra1 43.Ke2 Ra2+ 44.Kd1 Kg5 45.d5 cxd5 46.cxd5 Kf6 47.Rd3 Ke7 48.d6+ Kd7 49.Kc1 f4 50.Kd1 b6 51.Ke1 Rh2 52.Kf1 Rb2 53.Ke1 Rb3 54.Rd4 Rxa3 55.Rxf4 Rxh3 56.Rf6 Rh2 57.Rf3 Kxd6 58.Rf6+ Kc7 59.b5 a3 60.Rc6+ Kb7 61.Rc3 a2 62.Ra3 a1=Q+ 63.Rxa1 Rh1+ 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-16"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A05"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "185"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O c5 5.c3 e6 6.d4 Be7 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 d5 9.c4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nc6 11.N2b3 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Rc8 13.b3 Bb4 14.Bd2 Qe7 15. Bxb4 Qxb4 16.a3 Qe7 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.b4 h6 19.Qb3 Rc3 20.Qb2 Rfc8 21.Rac1 Qc7 22.Rxc3 Nxc3 23.Rc1 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Qb7+ 25.Nf3 Nd5 26.Rxc8+ Qxc8 27.Qe5 Qd7 28.Qb8+ Kh7 29.Ne5 Qb5 30.Nxf7 Qxe2 31.Qe5 Qxe5 32.Nxe5 Nc3 33.Nc6 a6 34.Nb8 a5 35.Nd7 axb4 36.axb4 Nd5 37.Nf8+ Kg8 38.Nxe6 Nxb4 39.Kf3 Nd5 40. Ke4 Nc3+ 41.Kd3 Nd1 42.f4 Kf7 43.Nd8+ Kf6 44.Nc6 Nf2+ 45.Kd4 Ng4 46.h3 Nf2 47.Nb4 Nxh3 48.Nd5+ Kf5 49.Ne3+ Ke6 50.f5+ Kf6 51.Ke4 Nf2+ 52.Kf3 Nd3 53. Nd5+ Kxf5 54.Nxb6 Ne5+ 55.Kg2 Ke4 56.Nc8 g5 57.Nd6+ Kd5 58.Nf5 Nf7 59.Kf3 Ke5 60.Ne3 h5 61.Nc4+ Kd4 62.Ne3 Ne5+ 63.Ke2 Ke4 64.Nf1 Nc6 65.Nd2+ Kf5 66.Nf3 Kg4 67.Kf2 Ne7 68.Ne5+ Kf5 69.Nf3 Nd5 70.Nd4+ Ke4 71.Nf3 Kf5 72. Nd4+ Kg4 73.Nf3 Nf6 74.Ne5+ Kf5 75.Nf3 Ne4+ 76.Kg2 Ke6 77.Nh2 Ke5 78.Nf3+ Kd5 79.Nh2 Kd4 80.Nf3+ Ke3 81.Ne5 Ke2 82.Nc6 Ke3 83.Ne5 Kd4 84.Nf3+ Kd5 85.Ng1 Ke6 86.Nf3 Kf5 87.Nd4+ Kg4 88.Nf3 Nxg3 89.Nxg5 Ne2 90.Nh3 Nf4+ 91. Nxf4 Kxf4 92.Kh3 h4 93.Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-17"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "105"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.d3 O-O 6.a3 a5 7.h3 h6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 d6 10.O-O Be6 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.Bxd5 Ne7 13.Ba2 Ng6 14.Qe1 d5 15.Qg3 Kh7 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxe5 Qd6 18.Bxd5 Nxe5 19.Be4+ Kg8 20.Rf5 f6 21.d4 Nf7 22.Qg6 Nh8 23.Qg4 c6 24.Bd3 Rae8 25.Rf3 Re7 26.h4 Rfe8 27.Re1 c5 28.Ref1 Rxe3 29.Bc4+ Kf8 30.Rxe3 Rxe3 31.Qc8+ Re8 32.Qxc5 Qxc5 33.dxc5 Re4 34.Bd5 Re5 35.Bxb7 Rxc5 36.c3 Ng6 37.Be4 Ne5 38.Rd1 Nc4 39.b4 axb4 40.axb4 Re5 41.Rd4 Ne3 42.c4 Ng4 43.g3 f5 44.Bf3 Ne3 45.c5 Ke7 46.c6 Nc2 47.Rc4 Ne3 48.c7 Nxc4 49.c8=Q Nd6 50.Qc7+ Ke6 51.Qxg7 Re3 52.Kf2 Rb3 53.Qg8+ 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-18"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "123"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 c5 6.Bxb4 cxb4 7.a3 bxa3 8.Rxa3 Bb7 9.Bg2 O-O 10.O-O Nc6 11.Nc3 Nb4 12.Qb3 a5 13.Na2 Nxa2 14.Rxa2 Qc7 15. Rc1 d6 16.Nd2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 e5 18.Nf3 Rfe8 19.e3 h6 20.Qb5 Nd7 21.Rd1 Rac8 22.b3 Qb7 23.Re2 Nf6 24.d5 Rc5 25.Qa4 b5 26.cxb5 Rxb5 27.e4 Rb8 28.Nd2 Qa6 29.Re3 Rb4 30.Qa3 Nd7 31.Ra1 Nc5 32.Qxa5 Qb7 33.Qa7 Qxa7 34.Rxa7 g6 35.Ra3 Kf8 36.Kf3 Ke7 37.Rc3 f5 38.exf5 gxf5 39.Ke3 f4+ 40.Ke2 R8b7 41.g4 Ne4 42. Nxe4 Rxe4+ 43.Kf3 Rd4 44.Ra5 Rdb4 45.Ra3 Rd4 46.Ra8 Rxd5 47.Rh8 Rdb5 48. Rcc8 Rxb3+ 49.Kg2 Ke6 50.Rxh6+ Kd5 51.Rd8 R7b6 52.Rf6 Rb2 53.g5 e4 54.g6 e3 55.Rxf4 exf2 56.g7 f1=Q+ 57.Kxf1 Rb1+ 58.Kg2 R6b2+ 59.Rf2 Rxf2+ 60.Kxf2 Rb2+ 61.Ke3 Rb3+ 62.Kd2 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-19"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B11"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "156"]

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.Be2 Nd7 7.d4 Bb4 8.O-O dxe4 9.Nxe4 Ngf6 10.c3 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Nf6 12.Qd3 Bd6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 Bc7 15.Bf3 Qd6 16.Bg3 Qe7 17.Be5 O-O-O 18.Rfe1 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Nd7 20.Re2 Qd6 21. b4 Ne5 22.Qe4 Nxf3+ 23.Qxf3 Rd7 24.a4 Qd5 25.Qf4 g5 26.Qf6 Rg8 27.b5 Rg6 28.Qh8+ Rd8 29.Qe5 Qxe5 30.Rxe5 Rd5 31.bxc6 bxc6 32.Re2 c5 33.Rb1 cxd4 34. cxd4 Rxd4 35.Rc2+ Kd8 36.Rb8+ Ke7 37.Rc7+ Kf6 38.Rbb7 Rg7 39.Rxa7 g4 40.h4 g3 41.fxg3 Rd3 42.Kh2 e5 43.a5 Ke6 44.Re7+ Kf6 45.a6 Ra3 46.Rec7 e4 47. Rc6+ Ke5 48.Re7+ Kd5 49.Rc2 Rxa6 50.Rd2+ Kc5 51.Rxe4 Rag6 52.Rd3 Rf6 53. Ra4 Kb5 54.Rf4 Rxf4 55.gxf4 Kc5 56.g3 f6 57.Kg2 Kc6 58.Kf3 f5 59.Kf2 Rg6 60.Ke2 Re6+ 61.Re3 Rg6 62.Rd3 Re6+ 63.Kd2 Rg6 64.Kc3 Re6 65.Kd4 Re4+ 66. Kc3 Re1 67.Kd2 Rg1 68.Ke2 Rg2+ 69.Kf1 Rc2 70.Re3 Kd6 71.Re5 Rc5 72.Rxc5 Kxc5 73.Kf2 h5 74.Ke3 Kc4 75.Ke2 Kc3 76.Ke3 Kc4 77.Ke2 Kc3 78.Ke3 Kc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-20"]
[White "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.O-O Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.c4 b6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.Nd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Rc8 13.b3 Bc5 14.Qd2 d5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.e3 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 d4 19.e4 Qe7 20.e5 Rfd8 21.Qd3 Bb4 22.Be4 Rc3 23.Bxh7+ Kf8 24.Qf5 Qe6 25.Qe4 Be7 26.Bf5 Qd5 27.Qe2 d3 28. Qh5 Bc5 29.Bg5 f6 30.Qh8+ Qg8 31.Qxg8+ Kxg8 32.exf6 d2 33.f7+ Kxf7 34.Bxd8 Rc1 35.Bg4 Bxf2+ 36.Kxf2 Rc2 37.Rd1 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.07"]
[Round "04-21"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lee, Alice USA"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "144"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.d3 h6 6.a3 d6 7.h3 a5 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Be6 10.Qe2 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bb5 e4 14.dxe4 Bxe4 15. O-O O-O 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.exd4 Qh4 19.Rde1 Bd5 20.c3 c6 21.Bd3 Qg3 22.Bb1 Rae8 23.Qf2 Qg5 24.Bd3 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 b5 26.Re5 Qc1+ 27.Kh2 b4 28.axb4 axb4 29.c4 Be6 30.Rc5 Bd7 31.Re5 b3 32.Re1 Qg5 33.Re5 Qc1 34.Re1 Qg5 35.Qf3 c5 36.d5 Qd2 37.Re2 Qd1 38.Re7 Qxf3 39.gxf3 Rd8 40.Kg3 Kf8 41. Re3 Ra8 42.Be4 Ba4 43.Bf5 Re8 44.Rxe8+ Kxe8 45.Kf4 Ke7 46.Ke5 g6 47.Bc8 f6+ 48.Ke4 Kd6 49.h4 f5+ 50.Kf4 Be8 51.h5 g5+ 52.Kxf5 Bxh5 53.Ke4 Bg6+ 54. Bf5 Be8 55.Ke3 Ke5 56.Bh3 h5 57.Kd2 Bg6 58.Kc3 Bc2 59.Kd2 Bg6 60.Ke3 Bc2 61.Bd7 Bd1 62.Be8 h4 63.Bd7 Bc2 64.Bg4 Bg6 65.Kf2 Bd3 66.Ke3 Bxc4 67.d6 Kxd6 68.Ke4 Be6 69.Bxe6 Kxe6 70.f4 gxf4 71.Kxf4 c4 72.Kg4 c3 0-1

Playing Patience

And yet, Edna, as a future neuroscientist, you should work toward making this self’s nemesis a centerpiece of your educational program

They Said She Couldn’t, but Yes She Can!

Alice Lee – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

8th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Final match game 2; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 7, 2026

4B3/2p3p1/1p4P1/1P6/4Pk1p/6bK/8/8 w - - 13 79

Position after 78. ... Kg5-f4

The diagram speaks for itself; Black has an extra Pawn, but the Bishops of opposite colours mean that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will not be able to make anything of it. Yet one cannot imagine her losing such an ending!
79. Bc6 Kf3!? Uselessly tricky — although there is nothing wrong with it. Much simpler was 79. ... Kg5 80. Be8 Kf4 with a draw.
80. e5+ Kf4?? An incredible mistake, which is very difficult to understand. Black could still save herself by 80. ... Ke3 81. e6 Bd6 82. Kxh4 Kf4 with a draw soon.
81. e6 Kg5 82. e7 1–0.

Sixteen-year-old Alice Lee is the surprise winner of the 8th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship after narrowly defeating legendary 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in the Grand Final. Screenshot courtesy of chess.com.

Dragonwyck

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alice Lee

8th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Final match game 3; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 7, 2026

Russian Defence C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Bc5 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Re1 c6?! This sounds a bit too passive.
11. Qh5 g6 12. Qh6 Re8 13. Bg5 Bf8 14. Qh4 Be7 15. Bf6! Bxf6 16. exf6 Re6 17. Rxe6 Bxe6 18. f4 Kh8 19. Re1 d4? The losing move, which allows 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) to unleash the dragon within. But Black’s situation was critical in any way; for example: 19. ... Qd6 20. Re5!→ with the deadly threat of Re5-h5.

20. Bxg6! fxg6 21. Rxe6 dxc3 22. h3 Qd1+ 23. Kh2 Qh5 24. Qe1 g5 25. Qxc3 Kg8 26. Re7 Qh4 27. Rg7+ Kh8 28. g3 Qh5 29. Re7 Kg8 30. f7+ Kf8 31. Qc5 Qf3 1–0. For mate follows in three moves by 32. Rxb7+ Kg7 33. f8=Q+ Kg6 34. Qxg5#.

A Farewell

A Sky of A Thousand Colours

An art installation inspired by the ancient painting A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains (《千里江山图》) hangs over a pedestrian street in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: 楊逸 (Yáng Yì)/北京青年报 (Běijīng Youth Daily)/Getty Images.

Force of Imagination

Thought and imagination
Again on artificial intelligence

Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, August 3, 2026

The problem of artificial intelligence, which is not always discussed with natural intelligence today, had — as we already had occasion to show here — a precursor in the history of Western philosophy: the unique, separate intellect of Latin Averroism. The analogy is so compelling — a unique and separate intellect which thinks outside of single individuals — that it can even coincide in their acronym: Artificial Intelligence — Agent Intellect (as the Averroists called the separate intellect). For medieval philosophers, more shrewd in this respect than our contemporaries, the crucial problem was how the unique and separate intellect unites (copulatur) with single humans, so that thought is acquired (adeptus) by the individual and one may say hic homo intelligit, this man understands. For Averroes, the medium that enables this union was imagination, which our contemporaries seem to lack entirely. In artificial intelligence, indeed, hic homo non intellegit, this particular man renounces understanding and delegates the most precious of his faculties to a machine, which is supposed to think for him and better than him. According to the instructions of this inexorable master, imagination is not of any use (although some form of imagination might be necessary even to apply a norm). Perhaps the true problem with artificial intelligence is that it was made possible by a general loss of the faculty of imagination, almost as if its advent had been preceded by the establishment of an omnipervasive artificial imagination. A humanity which had lost imagination, was ready to give up thinking as well (which, on the other hand, as Aristotle already taught, without imagination is simply not possible).
The first thing to do to hinder the dominance of AI is therefore a patient, punctilious, and methodical search for lost imagination. And since thought is nothing but the accomplished form of imagination, there will then be no longer any need for artificial intelligence.

(English translation by I, Robot)

René Magritte, The imaginative faculty, 1948. Courtesy of WikiArt.

All’s Well That Ends Well

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-01"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Qd3 Nf6 7.Bg5 e6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.O-O-O a6 10.Bxc6 Bxc6 11.Nd4 Rc8 12.f4 Qc7 13.Rhe1 O-O 14.Qg3 Rfe8 15.Re3 b5 16.a3 Bb7 17.Kb1 Qb6 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Bf6 Bxf6 22.exf6 g6 23.Qh4 Qc5 24.g4 e5 25.Rh3 h5 26.Rc3 Qf8 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Nf5 Bf3 29.Ne7+ Kh7 30.gxh5 g5 31.Qxg5 Bxd1 32.Qf5+ Kh6 33.Nxc8 Bxh5 34. Ne7 Qd8 35.Qxe5 Qd1+ 36.Ka2 Qxc2 37.Nf5+ Kh7 38.Nd4 Qc4+ 39.b3 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-02"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 c5 7.Bxb4 cxb4 8.O-O a5 9.a3 Na6 10.axb4 Nxb4 11.Na3 O-O 12.Qb3 d5 13.Rfd1 dxc4 14.Nxc4 Bd5 15. Nfe5 b5 16.Bxd5 Nfxd5 17.Na3 f6 18.e4 a4 19.Nc6 Nxc6 20.Qxb5 Nde7 21.d5 exd5 22.exd5 Ne5 23.d6 N7g6 24.f4 Nd7 25.Nc4 Rb8 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.Qd4 Rb4 28.Qc3 Qb8 29.Rac1 Rc8 30.Qd3 Ngf8 31.Ne3 Rxc1 32.Rxc1 Rxb2 33.Nd5 Qa7+ 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-03"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "117"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bd7 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Qd2 Nf6 9.f3 a6 10.Be2 O-O 11.O-O-O Rc8 12.h4 h5 13.Kb1 Ne5 14.Bg5 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Nde2 b5 17.e5 Nh7 18.exd6 Nxg5 19.dxe7 Qxe7 20.Qxd7 Qxd7 21.Rxd7 Ne6 22.Ne4 Nc5 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Rhd1 Rc4 25.g3 Re8 26.Rd8 Rc8 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.Nf4 Be5 29.Nd5 Kg7 30.f4 Bd6 31.c3 Re8 32.Kc2 Re2+ 33.Rd2 Re1 34.a3 Rg1 35.Rd3 Bc5 36.f5 Bf2 37.fxg6 fxg6 38.Nf4 Bxg3 39.Ne2 Rg2 40.Rxg3 Rxe2+ 41. Kb3 Re4 42.Rh3 Rf4 43.Kc2 Kf6 44.Kd3 Kf5 45.b3 Kg4 46.Rh1 g5 47.hxg5 Kxg5 48.c4 Rf3+ 49.Kd4 Rxb3 50.c5 Rxa3 51.c6 Ra4+ 52.Kd5 Rc4 53.Kd6 a5 54.Rb1 b4 55.Ra1 Rd4+ 56.Ke5 Rc4 57.Kd6 Rd4+ 58.Ke5 Rc4 59.Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-04"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "74"]

1.Nf3 e6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O c5 5.b3 Nf6 6.Bb2 Be7 7.c4 O-O 8.d3 d5 9. e3 Nc6 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Nc3 Rad8 12.Rad1 Qb8 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Rxd5 15.d4 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Rdd8 18.Qg4 g6 19.Qf4 Qxf4 20.gxf4 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Rc8 22.Be5 f6 23.Ba1 Rc7 24.Rd2 Kf7 25.Rfd1 Rfc8 26.Kf3 Ke8 27.h4 Rc1 28. h5 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 gxh5 30.Rh1 Rc5 31.Bd4 Rd5 32.Rc1 h4 33.Rc8+ Rd8 34.Rc7 Rd7 35.Rc8+ Rd8 36.Rc7 Rd7 37.Rc8+ Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-05"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Qd3 e6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.O-O-O Rd8 12.Nd4 Nf6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qxa6 O-O 15.Qxc6 Ng4 16.Qb6 Qg5+ 17.Kb1 Rb8 18.Qd4 Rfc8 19.Ne2 Qb5 20.Rd2 Rc4 21.a4 Qb4 22.c3 Rxd4 23.Nxd4 Qxa4 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-06"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B67"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 a6 7.Qd2 Bd7 8.O-O-O e6 9.Kb1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7 11.Nf3 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15. Qxd5 Rd8 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Qd6 Bc6 18.Qxd8+ Qxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.a4 Kc7 21. axb5 axb5 22.Bd3 Ng6 23.Rf1 Kb6 24.Bxg6 hxg6 25.h3 Rh5 26.b3 Kc5 27.Kb2 Rf5 28.Kc3 Rf4 29.Kd3 Bd5 30.Ke3 Re4+ 31.Kd3 Rf4 32.Ke3 Re4+ 33.Kd3 Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-07"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Qd3 e6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.Nd4 Rc8 10.Qg3 Qb6 11.Nxc6 Rxc6 12.O-O Nf6 13.Rb1 h5 14.Be3 Qa5 15. h3 h4 16.Qf3 Be7 17.Bd4 Qh5 18.Qd3 O-O 19.f4 Rfc8 20.Rbe1 Nd7 21.a3 Bf6 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.e5 dxe5 24.fxe5 Nd5 25.Nxd5 exd5 26.c3 Rd8 27.Rf4 Rg6 28. Qd4 Rh6 29.Ref1 Rd7 30.Rf5 Qe2 31.R5f2 Qh5 32.Rf4 Re6 33.Re1 Rh6 34.Kh2 Re7 35.Qxd5 Qg5 36.Qe4 Rhe6 37.Rg4 Rxe5 38.Qf3 Qxg4 39.Re2 Qxf3 40.Rxe5 Qg3+ 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-08"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B67"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "94"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 a6 7.Qd2 Bd7 8.O-O-O e6 9.Kb1 Be7 10.f4 h6 11.Bh4 Qc7 12.Be2 b5 13.Bf3 g5 14.fxg5 hxg5 15.Bxg5 Ne5 16.Rdf1 Qc5 17.Be2 Ng8 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Nf5 exf5 20.Nd5 Qb7 21.exf5 Bc6 22.Nxe7 Qxe7 23.f6 Nxf6 24.Bd4 Ne4 25.Qf4 O-O-O 26.Bf3 Rh4 27.Qc1 Nxf3 28. gxf3 Nc5 29.Be3 Ne6 30.Qd2 Kb7 31.Rhg1 Rdh8 32.Rf2 Rh3 33.f4 Nc5 34.Re2 Re8 35.Rge1 Qc7 36.b4 Ne6 37.f5 Nd8 38.Qd4 Kc8 39.Kb2 Re4 40.Qd2 Rc4 41. Bd4 Bd7 42.c3 Nc6 43.Bf6 Kb7 44.Rg1 Bxf5 45.Rd1 Rd3 46.Qe1 Rxd1 47.Qxd1 Bg4 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-09"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "103"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Bxd5 11.exd5 a5 12.a4 O-O 13.g4 Nb6 14.c4 Qc7 15.Nd2 Rfe8 16.g5 e4 17.Qd4 Nfd7 18.Nxe4 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.Qh4 Qe5 21.O-O Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Qxg5+ 23.Bxg5 Rxe2 24.b3 Rae8 25.Be3 Nd7 26.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 b6 28.Kf1 f6 29.Bf4 Rxe1+ 30.Kxe1 Kf7 31.Bc7 f5 32.Ke2 g5 33.Ke3 h6 34.h3 Ke7 35.Kf3 Kf7 36.Kg3 Kg6 37.f3 Kf7 38.h4 Kg6 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.Kf2 Kf7 41.Kg3 Kg6 42.Bd8 Kh5 43.Kh3 Kg6 44.Kg2 Kh5 45.Kf2 Kg6 46.Kg2 Kh5 47.Kg3 Kg6 48. Kf2 Kh5 49.Kg2 Kg6 50.Kg3 Kh5 51.Be7 Kg6 52.Bd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-10"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "92"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Bb7 9.g4 Nc6 10.g5 Nd7 11.h4 Rc8 12.O-O-O Qa5 13.Kb1 Nce5 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Rh3 b4 16.Nd5 exd5 17.exd5 Be7 18.f4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Rh2 O-O 21.Na5 Qb5 22. Nb3 Rfe8 23.h5 Bf8 24.g6 Qxd5 25.Bd4 h6 26.Qxb4 fxg6 27.hxg6 Qe4 28.Rhd2 d5 29.Qa5 Qxg6 30.Bc3 Nc5 31.Nxc5 Rxc5 32.Qa4 Re4 33.Qd7 Qf7 34.Qd8 Re8 35.Qh4 Rxc3 36.bxc3 Bc6 37.Ka1 Be7 38.Qg3 Bf6 39.Rd3 Rc8 40.Re1 Bb5 41. Rde3 d4 42.Re5 Bxe5 43.fxe5 Rxc3 44.Qg4 Rxc2 45.e6 Qc7 46.e7 Qc3+ 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-11"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "72"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qd3 Be6 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 a5 13.a4 b6 14.Be3 Rc8 15.c3 Nc5 16.Qd1 Nfd7 17.Bb5 f5 18.Nxc5 bxc5 19.f4 Nf6 20.Qd3 e4 21.Qe2 Kh8 22. Rfd1 Ng4 23.Rab1 Nxe3 24.Qxe3 Bf6 25.Qh3 g6 26.Kh1 Qe7 27.Qe3 g5 28.g3 gxf4 29.gxf4 Bg7 30.Rg1 Qh4 31.Rg3 Bh6 32.Rf1 Rg8 33.Rh3 Qg4 34.Rg3 Qh4 35.Rh3 Qg4 36.Rg3 Qh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-12"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5 5.Bxb4 cxb4 6.Qd2 a5 7.a3 Na6 8.e3 b6 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.O-O O-O 11.Qe2 d6 12.Nbd2 Qc7 13.h3 Rfe8 14.Rfc1 e5 15.Bc2 h6 16.Ba4 Bc6 17.Bb5 bxa3 18.bxa3 Qb7 19.Rab1 Nc7 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.d5 Qb7 22. e4 Na6 23.Ne1 Rab8 24.Nd3 Nd7 25.h4 Nac5 26.Nxc5 Nxc5 27.Nf1 Qe7 28.h5 Rf8 29.Ng3 g6 30.Rc2 Rb7 31.Rcb2 Qd8 32.Qg4 Kh7 33.Qf3 Kg7 34.Rb5 Qc7 35.Qg4 Kh7 36.Qf3 Qd8 37.R5b2 Nd7 38.Qg4 Nf6 39.Qf3 Kg7 40.Qe3 Nd7 41.Qf3 Qf6 42. Qe2 Rfb8 43.Rb5 Nc5 44.R5b2 Qg5 45.Qf3 Qf6 46.Qe2 Qg5 47.Qf3 Qf6 48.Qe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-13"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Bxd5 11.exd5 Rc8 12.c4 a5 13.O-O O-O 14.Kh1 g6 15. Rae1 Ne8 16.f4 f5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Qc3 a4 19.Nd4 Ng7 20.Bh6 Bf6 21.Bxg7 Bxg7 22.Ne6 Qh4 23.Nxf8 Rxf8 24.b3 axb3 25.axb3 f4 26.Qc2 g5 27.c5 g4 28. Qe4 g3 29.h3 dxc5 30.d6 Qf6 31.Bd3 Nxd3 32.Qd5+ Kh8 33.Qxd3 Rd8 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-14"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "79"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 O-O 6.Nc3 d5 7.e3 Qe7 8.Rc1 Rd8 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bd3 c6 11.O-O Nbd7 12.h3 Ne4 13.Qc2 Ndf6 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.Nfd2 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qc5 Qe6 19.a4 Rd5 20.Qb4 b6 21. Qc4 Rc8 22.Rc2 Rc7 23.Rfc1 h5 24.b4 Qd7 25.Qe2 Rg5 26.f4 exf3 27.Qxf3 Rf5 28.Qe4 Rf6 29.d5 c5 30.bxc5 bxc5 31.Rxc5 Rxc5 32.Rxc5 g6 33.Qd4 Rb6 34.Rc1 Rb8 35.e4 a5 36.d6 Rb4 37.Qe5 Qb7 38.Rc7 Qb6+ 39.Kh2 Rb1 40.Rc8+ 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-15"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "121"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Bxd5 11.exd5 Rc8 12.c4 a5 13.O-O O-O 14.Kh1 g6 15. Rae1 b6 16.f4 exf4 17.Bxf4 Ne5 18.Qe3 Nfd7 19.Nd4 Bh4 20.Rc1 Re8 21.Qh3 Bg5 22.Qg3 Bxf4 23.Qxf4 Qe7 24.b3 Nc5 25.Rc3 f5 26.Re3 Kh8 27.h3 Ne4 28. Ne6 Nc5 29.Nd4 Qg7 30.a3 Nf7 31.b4 Ne4 32.Ne6 Qe5 33.Rxe4 Qxe4 34.Qxe4 fxe4 35.Rxf7 axb4 36.axb4 Ra8 37.Rf4 Ra1+ 38.Kh2 e3 39.Re4 Rb1 40.Rxe3 Rxb4 41.Rf3 Rb2 42.Re3 Rc8 43.Ng5 b5 44.cxb5 Rcc2 45.Bf3 Rxb5 46.Re7 Kg8 47.Rxh7 Rb3 48.Re7 Rd3 49.Bg4 Rdd2 50.Bf3 Rf2 51.h4 Kf8 52.Re6 Rcd2 53. Rxd6 Rd4 54.Rf6+ Kg7 55.Rf7+ Kg8 56.Kg3 Rfd2 57.Rf6 Kg7 58.Ra6 R2d3 59. Ne6+ Kh6 60.Nxd4 Rxd4 61.h5 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-16"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5 5.Bxb4 cxb4 6.a3 bxa3 7.Rxa3 b6 8.e3 Bb7 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.O-O d6 12.Qe2 Nb4 13.Bb1 Qe7 14.h3 Rfe8 15.Rd1 h6 16.e4 e5 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Nd5 Nfxd5 19.exd5 e4 20.Nd4 Qd7 21.Bxe4 f5 22. Bxf5 Rxe2 23.Bxd7 Rxb2 24.Re3 Rf8 25.f3 a5 26.Re7 Bc8 27.Ne6 Bxd7 28.Nxf8 Bf5 29.Ne6 Bxe6 30.dxe6 Re2 31.Re8+ Kh7 32.Kf1 Re5 33.Rd7 a4 34.Ree7 Kg6 35.Rxg7+ Kf6 36.Rgf7+ Kg6 37.Rg7+ Kf6 38.Ra7 Nc2 39.Rh7 Ne3+ 40.Kf2 Nxc4 41.e7 a3 42.Rxh6+ Kg5 43.Rh8 1-0

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-17"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B53"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "129"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 a6 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Qd2 h5 9.Nd4 Bh6 10.Qd3 Ne5 11.Qd1 Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxb2 13.Be2 Bd2+ 14.Qxd2 Qxa1+ 15.Bd1 Nc4 16.Qd3 Nb2 17.Qd2 Qxd1+ 18.Qxd1 Nxd1 19.Nc7+ Kd8 20.Nxa8 Nc3 21.Nb6 Kc7 22.Nd5+ Nxd5 23.exd5 e5 24.dxe6 fxe6 25.Kd2 e5 26.Nf3 Be6 27.a3 Rg8 28.Nh4 Rg4 29.g3 Rd4+ 30.Kc3 Rc4+ 31.Kb2 b5 32.Re1 b4 33.Re3 Kd7 34. Nf3 a5 35.Nd2 Rd4 36.Nf3 Rc4 37.Nd2 Rc6 38.Ne4 Ke7 39.axb4 axb4 40.Rf3 Bd5 41.Re3 Bxe4 42.Rxe4 Rb6 43.Kb3 d5 44.Rxb4 Ra6 45.Rh4 d4 46.Rxh5 Rc6 47. Rh7+ Ke6 48.f4 Rc3+ 49.Kb2 Rf3 50.fxe5 fxe5 51.Kc1 e4 52.Kd2 Rf2+ 53.Kd1 e3 54.h4 Kd5 55.h5 Ke4 56.Re7+ Kd5 57.Re8 Rf1+ 58.Ke2 Rf2+ 59.Kd1 Rd2+ 60. Kc1 Rh2 61.g4 Rh1+ 62.Kb2 Rh2 63.Kc1 Rh1+ 64.Kb2 Rh2 65.Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-18"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "86"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.e3 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O O-O 8.Nc3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Be4 10.Qc2 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 d5 12.Rac1 Nbd7 13.b3 c6 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ne4 17.Bb2 Qe7 18.f3 Nc5 19.Qe2 Rfd8 20.Ba3 Qb7 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22.Rc2 Qb6 23.Rcd2 h6 24.f4 Rc7 25.Qg4 Rcd7 26.f5 exf5 27.Qxf5 Qb7 28.e6 fxe6 29.Qxe6+ Kh8 30.Rf2 Re7 31.Qg6 Qd7 32.Rdf1 Qe8 33.Rf8+ Qxf8 34.Rxf8+ Rxf8 35.Qxc6 dxc4 36.Qxc5 Rfe8 37.bxc4 Rxe3 38.Qxa5 Re1+ 39.Kf2 R8e2+ 40.Kf3 Re3+ 41.Kf2 R3e2+ 42.Kf3 Re3+ 43.Kf2 R3e2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-19"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 a6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Qd2 e6 8.O-O-O h6 9.Bh4 Be7 10.Nd4 Bd7 11.f4 Qc7 12.Kb1 b5 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ndxb5 axb5 15. Nxb5 Qb8 16.Nxd6+ Kf8 17.e5 Be7 18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.Bc4 Rd8 20.f5 Kg8 21.f6 Bf8 22.Rhf1 Nxe5 23.Bb3 Ba4 24.Qxd8 Qxd8 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Bxa4 gxf6 27.Bb3 Kf7 28.a4 Ng4 29.h3 Ne3 30.Rf2 Bc5 31.Re2 f5 32.c3 Kf6 33.Bc2 e5 34.b4 Ba7 35.a5 f4 36.Be4 Rd1+ 37.Kb2 Nc4+ 38.Kb3 Nd2+ 39.Kc2 Nxe4 40.Kxd1 Nxc3+ 41. Kd2 Nxe2 42.Kxe2 Ke6 43.b5 Bd4 44.b6 Kd5 45.b7 Ba7 46.Kf3 e4+ 47.Kxf4 Kd4 48.g4 e3 49.Kf3 Kd3 50.h4 e2 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-20"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.e3 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Nbd7 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 e5 15. Kh1 Qe7 16.Rg1 e4 17.fxe4 Nxe4 18.Be1 Ng5 19.Qd1 f5 20.Qh5 Ne4 21.f3 Nef6 22.Qg5 Kh8 23.Bf2 g6 24.Bh4 Re8 25.e4 fxe4 26.fxe4 Qg7 27.Rf1 Ng8 28.Bf2 c5 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.e5 dxe5 31.d5 e4 32.Be2 e3 33.Bg3 Ngf6 34.Qf4 Ne4 35. Bh4 g5 36.Bxg5 Nxg5 37.Rg1 h6 38.h4 Re4 39.Qd6 Rxh4+ 40.Kg2 Ne4+ 0-1

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-21"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B53"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "112"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.Qd3 g6 8.O-O Bg7 9.Nd5 O-O 10.c3 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nd7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 e6 16.Nb4 Nde5 17.Qe3 Nxb4 18.cxb4 Qe7 19.Rad1 Rad8 20.a3 Ng6 21.Rd2 Be5 22.Bh5 Nf4 23.Bd1 Qf6 24.Bb3 Bxb2 25.Rfd1 Be5 26.Qb6 Qe7 27.Qe3 Rc8 28.Rc2 Rxc2 29.Bxc2 Rc8 30.Qd2 Qc7 31.Bb3 Qc3 32.Qa2 Kg7 33.Rd2 Qc1+ 34.Kh2 Rc3 35.Rc2 Rxc2 36.Qxc2 Qxc2 37.Bxc2 Ne2 38.Bxe5+ dxe5 39.g3 Nd4 40.Bd3 Nb5 41.Bxb5 axb5 42.Kg2 f5 43.Kf3 Kf6 44.Ke3 Ke7 45.Kd3 Kd6 46.g4 Ke7 47.f3 Kf6 48.Ke3 h5 49.Kd3 fxg4 50.fxg4 hxg4 51.hxg4 Ke7 52.Ke3 Kd6 53.Kd3 Kd7 54.Ke3 Kd6 55.Kd3 Kd7 56.Ke3 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2026.08.02"]
[Round "03-22"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara Erkhanovna KAZ"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "89"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.e3 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Be4 11.Qc2 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Nbd7 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 Qe7 15. e4 e5 16.d5 Rfb8 17.Nd2 Qe8 18.Nb3 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 Ra8 20.Rb1 h6 21.f3 Ra3 22.Qc2 Qa8 23.Qb2 Ra2 24.Qc1 Qa6 25.Nd2 Nh5 26.Ra1 Nf4 27.Rxa2 Qxa2 28.Qb2 Qxb2 29.Bxb2 Nb8 30.Kf1 Na6 31.Bc3 Nd3 32.b5 Nb8 33.g3 f6 34.Ke2 Nc5 35. Nf1 Nbd7 36.Ne3 g6 37.Nc2 Kf7 38.Nb4 Ke7 39.Bd2 h5 40.Nc6+ Ke8 41.Be3 Nb7 42.Nb4 Nbc5 43.Nc6 Nb7 44.Nb4 Nbc5 45.Nc6 1/2-1/2

You’re always the boss, Edna — whatever you move

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

The Mirror of the Self

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva

7th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Semifinal match game 1; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 2, 2026

Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4. The Chekhover Variation, a long-time favourite of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).
4. ... Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Qd3 Nf6 7. Bg5 e6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. 0-0-0 a6 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Nd4 Rc8 12. f4 Qc7 13. Rhe1 0-0 14. Qg3 Rfe8 15. Re3 b5 16. a3 Bb7 17. Kb1 Qb6?! (17. ... b4!? 18. axb4 Qb6)
18. e5! dxe5 19. fxe5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5

21. Bf6! White’s dream came true. She got a crushing attack on the Kingside.
21. ... Bxf6 22. exf6 g6 23. Qh4 Qc5 24. g4 e5 25. Rh3 h5 26. Rc3 Qf8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8

28. Nf5! Bf3 (28. ... gxf5 29. Qg5+ Kh7 30. Qxf5+ Kg8 31. Rxd5+−)
29. Ne7+ Kh7 30. gxh5 g5 31. Qxg5 Bxd1 32. Qf5+ (32. Nxc8 Bxc2+ 33. Kc1+−)
32. ... Kh6 33. Nxc8 Bxh5 34. Ne7 Qd8

35. Qxe5? Oh, no! Not now! White had to play the prophylactic 35. Ka2! first, as Black can prevent the threat of h2-h4, followed by Qf5-g5+ and Qg5xh5#, only at the cost of grave concessions. Likewise, it must be noted that 35. b3! is also winning.
35. ... Qd1+ 36. Ka2 Qxc2 37. Nf5+ Kh7 38. Nd4 Qc4+? Black misses her only chance. After 38. ... Qd1! 39. Qf5+ Bg6 40. Qh3+ Kg8 White has to content herself with perpetual check (41. Qc8+), as 41. Qh6?? is annihilated by 41. ... Bb1+ 42. Ka1 Bc2+ 43. Ka2 Qb1#.
39. b3 1–0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) did it again, and now sets a date with her nemesis, Alice Lee, in Final. Screenshot from the live stream.

Excelsior

• Arturo Xicoténcatl, “Assaubayeva vs 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) semifinal de Speedchess”, Excélsior, Friday, July 31, 2026, p. 2.

All the Water in the World

Ghosts of Mars

On Sunday, July 26, 2026, Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov officially withdrew from FIDE presidential race, apparently hurt by a behind-the-scenes smear campaign orchestrated by (not only Westerners) prominent detractors. He was dreaming the impossible dream, “but instead, they began to drag me into their petty squabbles. Why would I need that? I am a free man”, Ilyumzhinov said in an interview to Sport-Express. Yet he did not make a drama out of it. “His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said that we need to build a temple within ourselves. I remember a conversation with Bobby Fischer in December 1995 at Budapest. I asked him, ‘Bobby, why didn’t you stay in chess?’. He replied, ‘I won everything, I beat everyone. I’m no longer interested in’. Well, it is almost the same for me”, Ilyumzhinov said.
The withdrawal of Ilyumzhinov coincided with the announcement of Russian-born Kazakhstani billionaire Timur Ruslanovich Turlov’s candidacy for FIDE presidency.

Cinderella Goes to the Mall

The birthdays

Viola was the birthday girl, but there were gifts by Mado Flynn for Emma and Matilde, too.

Say Cheesecake and Smile

A birthday party at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” is always a happy occasion, and Matilde proved herself to be an impeccable maître pâtissier.

An Evening in July

Giacomo and Leone play chess over the board — they only played online once so far — in the backstage of a birthday-party-at-home situation.