The Way of the Panda

It was held today in 成都 (Chéngdū), China, the opening ceremony of the fourth stage of the Women’s Grand Prix series 2015/2016, organised by the Chinese Chess Association in partnership with the World Chess Federation. Two former Women’s World Champions, Mariya Muzychuk and Antoaneta Stefanova, and the newly women’s world number two 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) are participating, but not the current Women’s World Chess Champion and women’s world number one 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who suspended her participation in the Grand Prix after World Chess Federation’s aprioristic refusal to even discuss her proposal of equating men’s and women’s World Chess Championship systems. For further information, see http://chengdu2016.fide.com/.

World women’s number two 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Photo: qipai.org.cn

From left: Anna & Maria Muzychuk with Chinese Chess Association’s Delegate & Vice General Secretary 田红卫 (Tián Hóngwèi) into their midst. Photo: qipai.org.cn.

Standing from left: 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), Humpy Koneru, Anna Muzychuk, Mariya Muzychuk, Harika Dronavalli, 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), Antoaneta Stefanova, 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě), Lela Javakhishvili, Pia Cramling, Bela Khotenashvili, and Olga Alexandrovna Girya. Photo: qipai.org.cn.