Black and White Queen

The day after, the Vice President of the Chinese Chess Association Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) (pictured third, above) proudly claimed that at “和平·万科杯” (“Peace Vanke Cup”) National Schools Chess Championship 2018 a total of 336 youngsters entered the arena, the highest number of participants ever in the championships history. He also recalled that it was here, in 沈阳 (Shěnyáng), that 7th Women’s World Chess Champion 谢军 (Xiè Jūn) (pictured second, above) played the second half of her victorious 1999 Women’s World Chess Championship match with Alisa Mikhailovna Galliamova. And so on, etcetera etcetera. But who better than him knew that nothing could ever happen without the will of the Goddess? And thus the scene was set for the appearance on the imperial stage of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured first, above), who dazzled and captivated the audience with her Queen’s wardrobe. Summer or winter, spring or autumn, her midnight black dress was not only a most elegant outfit; it was a sartorial triumph. Photos: http://sports.syd.com.cn.