Caterina rehearsing for the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s end-of-year show, which was held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence.
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Sunday, June 30, 2019
Rehearsal Fridays
本票 (Promissory note)
London, England, most likely on June 26, 2019: Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) posing for a picture with serial entrepreneur Mads Faurholt-Jørgensen, who must have given her his good advice before she left to China. Photo: Mads Faurholt-Jørgensen (@madsfaurholt).
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In Summer
On the morning of Sunday, June 30, 2019, just a few hours before the start of the 10th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament, the drawing of lots took place at Four Points by Sheraton 儋州 (Dānzhōu), once again relying upon the supernatural authority of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (third from left in the first two pictures above, and third from right in the last one), who, on occasion, presented an exclusive dress from her evergreen spring/summer collection. Photos: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).
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Of Clocks and Time
One of the most technically accomplished watches of all time, the George Daniels Space Traveller, goes on sale at Sotheby’s in London, United Kingdom. It was made in 1982 to commemorate the 1969 American Moon landing. Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Sotheby’s.
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Never Alone
Hermes Martia saeculi voluptas,
Hermes omnibus eruditus armis, Hermes et gladiator et magister, Hermes turbo sui tremorque ludi, Hermes, quem timet Helius, sed unum, Hermes, cui cadit Advolans, sed uni, Hermes vincere nec ferire doctus, Hermes subpositicius sibi ipse, Hermes divitiae locariorum, Hermes cura laborque ludiarum, Hermes belligera superbus hasta, Hermes aequoreo minax tridente, Hermes casside languida timendus, Hermes gloria Martis universi, Hermes omnia solus et ter unus. Hermes, the age’s delight to the Sons of Mars; Hermes, schooled in all weapons; Hermes, gladiator and trainer both; Hermes, the confusion and terror of his own school; Hermes, whom, but whom alone, Helius fears; Hermes, whom, but whom alone, Advolans goes down before; Hermes, skilled to vanquish without slaying; Hermes, himself his own substitute; Hermes, fount of wealth to seat-contractors; Hermes, the darling and passion of gladiators’ women; Hermes, proud with the warrior’s spear; Hermes, threatful with the sea-trident; Hermes, terrible in the drooping casque; Hermes, the pride of Mars in every shape; Hermes is all things in his single self, and trebly one. |
Martial, Epigrams, Book 5, XXIV
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
Gérard de Lairesse, Hermes Ordering Calypso to Release Odysseus, 1665. Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art.
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Saturday, June 29, 2019
Silk Wings
Arianna Settembrini performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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蝴蝶效应 (Butterfly effect)
And, thus, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) poured out her supernatural blessing over the 10th anniversary ceremony of the 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament. Other lesser goddesses too took part in the commencement ceremony — current European Women’s Individual Chess Champion Alina Anatolyevna Kashlinskaya, Woman Grandmaster Jovana Vojinović-Rapport, former Olympic gold medalist in diving 许艳梅 (Xǔ Yànméi), and so on — but, in the end, only one shined brighter than Caïssa, and perhaps was the Goddess herself. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), the only woman to have played four of the ten super-tournaments “for men only” — since the first one in 2010 — fled from Oxford, where she’s studying for a Master of Public Policy (MPP), just to bring her good wishes to all participants. But an unexpected surprise was waiting for her on stage. She was awarded a most special prize — though almost the only one for women only: namely, the “Most Charming Female Player Award”. Quite a paradox, but one that has conquered the world. Photos: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).
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The Movie Queen
As part of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament in 儋州 (Dānzhōu), China (June 29 – July 8), four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) won the “Most Charming Female Player Award” and gave her appreciation speech on stage.
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客串 (Guest appearance)
On Saturday, June 29, 2019 a grand opening was held at Four Points by Sheraton 儋州 (Dānzhōu) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament in 儋州 (Dānzhōu), China (June 29 – July 8) with a guest appearance by four-time Women’s World Chess Champion (as well as No. 1 woman player in the world) and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), current European Women’s Individual Chess Champion Alina Anatolyevna Kashlinskaya, and Woman Grandmaster Jovana Vojinović-Rapport.
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Friday, June 28, 2019
Euclidean space
Emma Giuliani performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Don’t Count the Waves
Visitors interacting with the installation Add Colour Painting (Refugee Boat) by Yōko Ono (小野 洋子), made up of a room with a boat where visitors can paint messages and images on the walls. The exhibit is part of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s 18th River to River Festival (June 18–29, 2019) in downtown New York City, United States. Photo: Justin Lane/EPA.
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How Not to Say Goodbye
Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
5th Grand Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Zagreb, June 28, 2019
Spanish Game C84
5th Grand Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Zagreb, June 28, 2019
Spanish Game C84
The result of a single game cannot change, of course, the overall relationship strength between the two strongest players on the planet (so far), but it may serve to confirm (or disconfirm) the reliability of Fabiano Caruana as a most likely challenger to Magnus Carlsen even for the next world cycle. Thus, the resilience Caruana showed in his last 16 classical games against the mighty Carlsen may still constitute a powerful argument in his own favour. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 Be7. The Walbrodt Variation. 7. Re1 b5 8. Rxe4 d5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Rxe5 bxa4 11. Nc3 0-0. An illustrious reference is 11. ... Be6? 12. Qh5! g6 13. Qf3 Bf6? (this leads to a quick catastrophe, but also after 13. ... c6 14. Bh6 White stands better — Em. Lasker’s analysis) 14. Rxd5! Bxd5 15. Nxd5 Bg7 16. Bg5!+− Em. Lasker – Tarrasch, Berlin 1916, match game 6. 12. Re1!? Here is something of a novelty. Likewise after 12. Rxd5 Bd6 13. Bg5 Qe8 the game is complex with chances for both colours, Kruppa – Ivanchuk, Semifinal of 54th Championship of USSR, Irkutsk 1986. 12. ... Bd6 13. Qh5 a3 14. Nxd5 axb2 15. Bxb2 Rb8 16. Rab1 Re8 17. Ne3 Bf4 18. d5 Rb4 19. c4 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Rxe3 21. fxe3 Rxc4 22. Bd4 c5 23. Ba1 f6 24. h3 Qe7 25. Qf3 h6 26. Re1 Re4 27. Kf2 Bd7. That is what happened so far, and it is enough to guess the result. 28. Rd1 Kh7 29. Rd2 Qe8 30. Bb2 Ra4 31. a3 Rc4 32. Re2 Qg6 33. e4 Ba4 34. d6 Bc6 35. Qg3 Qxg3+ 36. Kxg3 Kg6 37. e5 fxe5 38. Bxe5 h5 39. Bb2 h4+ 40. Kh2
40. ... Kf5!? 41. Bxg7 Re4!? Carlsen is just pretending not to accept the draw outcome or what? 42. Rxe4 Kxe4 43. Bf6. Two united passed Pawns won’t prove to be enough for Caruana to score a victory, since, in the end, he will end up with the wrong colour Rook Pawn for his Bishop. 43. ... c4 44. Bxh4 c3 45. Bf6 c2 46. Bb2 Kd5 47. g4 Kxd6 48. Kg3 Bb5 49. Kf3 Ke7 50. h4 Kf8 51. h5 Be8 52. Kg3 Kg8 53. Kh4 Kh7 54. Kg5 Bd7 55. Kf4 a5 56. Kg5 a4 57. Kf4 Be6 58. g5 Bf7 59. g6+ Bxg6 60. hxg6+ Kxg6 61. Ke5 Kf7 62. Kd6 Ke8 63. Bc1 Kd8 64. Kc6 Kc8 65. Bf4 c1=Q+ 66. Bxc1 Kb8 67. Kb6 Ka8 68. Bf4 stalemate.
Today’s draw raises to 16 the number of consecutive draws between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour.
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Theoretical draw
Love Always Wins, painted on the side of The Winchester in Angel, London, England by street artist Pegasus, honours LGBT Pride Month and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Photo: Pegasus (@pegasusart).
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Of Clocks and Time
Ernesto Che Guevara playing a game of chess with the clock, most likely in the early ’60s in Cuba. Photo courtesy of Erik Twiest.
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Gypsy Flower & The Traveling Jackets
From left to right: Caterina Gaja, Matilde Guerri, Emma Giuliani, Maddalena Sottili, Chiara Parrini, and Aurora Cheli performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Dog days
Paris, France: A woman cools herself down in the Trocadéro fountain, with the Eiffel Tower on the background.
Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images.
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Thursday, June 27, 2019
Balancing
Ester Marra performing (along with Letizia Rogai, Arianna Settembrini, Giuditta Sottili, and Serena Vinci) Alessandra Innocenti’s coreography “Sleuth”, presented — in the name and behalf of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” — at the 21th International Dance Festival “Vetrina Scuole di Danza AICS” on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Teatro Verdi in Florence, Italy. Photo: Matteo Bertelli.
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Meridian
From rear left to front centre: Maddalena Sottili, Matilde Guerri, Aurora Cheli, Emma Giuliani, Chiara Parrini and Caterina Gaja performing Chiara Angelini’s coreography “Puzzle”, presented — in the name and behalf of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” — at the 21th International Dance Festival “Vetrina Scuole di Danza AICS” on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Teatro Verdi in Florence, Italy. Photo: Matteo Bertelli.
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Chiaroscuro
From rear to front: Valentina Trafeli and Viola Rocchini performing (along with Silvia Bertini and Olga Calamai) Alessandra Innocenti’s coreography “Wind chimes”, presented — in the name and behalf of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” — at the 21th International Dance Festival “Vetrina Scuole di Danza AICS” on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Teatro Verdi in Florence, Italy. Photo: Alessandro Botticelli.
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危險年代 (The Year of Living Dangerously)
Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (first from right) at the Going Down Dinner which was staged on Friday, June 21, 2019 at Rhodes House, University of Oxford, Oxford, England. Photos: Rhodes Trust.
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Rehearsal Fridays
Caterina rehearsing for the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s end-of-year show, which was held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence.
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Haute Couture
From left to right: Arianna Settembrini and Giuditta Sottili performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Making Sense of Everyday Life
Arianna Settembrini rehearsing for the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s end-of-year show, which was held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence.
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Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Butterfly in a Net
A final dress rehearsal for Opera Australia’s production of Madama Butterfly at the Sydney Opera House at Sydney Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Photo: Steven Saphore/EPA.
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Tuesday, June 25, 2019
The Meaning of Life Is to Give Life Meaning
Arianna Settembrini delivering bouquets of flowers to the younger dancers as the ritual corollary of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Lighting the Stage
From left to right: Caterina Gaja and Matilde Guerri performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Caterina in Rehearsal
Caterina Gaja rehearsing for the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance performance show, which was held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence.
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Currency of the Heart
From left to right: Arianna Settembrini, Letizia Rogai, and Giuditta Sottili performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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By A Thread
From left to right: Ester Marra, Giuditta Sottili, Letizia Rogai, Arianna Settembrini, and Serena Vinci performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Monday, June 24, 2019
Eye Time
From left to right: Viola Rocchini, Olga Calamai, and Silvia Bertini performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Table for Two
7th FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich told TASS today that he will begin negotiations with Russia, if he will not soon get a “best offer” by China with respect to the aim of organising and hosting the upcoming Women’s Word Chess Championship match between 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, which is unofficially planned for the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020. The unavailability of other “neutral” host countries is, at least for now, probably due to the unusually high (announced) prize fund of €500,000 €uros.
Boasts aside, it should be noted that a World Chess Championship match should be as much a private affair between two people as a social spectacle in a multicultural society, although knowing that it is not easy for anyone to get an audience out of a “self mindset”.
Boasts aside, it should be noted that a World Chess Championship match should be as much a private affair between two people as a social spectacle in a multicultural society, although knowing that it is not easy for anyone to get an audience out of a “self mindset”.
The Grand Ball
From left to right: Caterina Gaja and Matilde Guerri performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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A diva always knows when it is time to go and when it is time to stop
Rascal, quite unarguably the most iconic Chinese crested dog in the world, always knows how to take over the whole scene keeping overeager fans at a distance. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images.
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Sunday, June 23, 2019
The Heart of the Matter
Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, the newly crowned challenger for the Women’s World Chess Championship, gave an exclusive interview to Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin’s manager and Sport-Express correspondent Kirill Zangalis on various matters, which may be even more interesting as being not only chess-related questions and answers. On one hand, Goryachkina describes herself as a shy and homely young woman, but, on the other hand, she does not deny to be quite determined in her bid for the throne. New habits, new coaches, new watchwords, new responsibilities won’t hopefully change her deep-rooted family attitudes and values. After all, she entered in the Women’s Candidates Tournament only as first reserve thanks to the renounce of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion (as well as No. 1 woman player in the world) and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who is completing her Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Oxford, just to win it with two rounds to go. Goryachkina will have to play her World Chess Championship match with 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) of China, but it’s almost impossible — even for her — to escape the giant shadow of 13th Women’s World Chess Champion. “I always lagged behind her. At 14 she already played the Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Final, where she lost to Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk. But that was only the start. Year after year, she raised higher and higher in an irresistible crescendo. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has always been on top for 10 years. It’s very hard. She won everything she could possibly win, and finally decided to live another life. After all, I understand her. Maybe one day she will come back”, Goryachkina says. Maybe one day. For now, however, the stage awaits only her, nearly the half-fairytale of a modern Cinderella. But when Zangalis asks about her personal life, she is very clear about her priorities: “Well, first I have to play the Women’s World Chess Championship match, and then I’ll think about love...”.
No doubt it will not be easy to write the story of a Cinderella without a prince. |
With two rounds to spare, Goryachkina won the Women’s Candidates Tournament in Kazan, Russia for the right to take on 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) of China in an upcoming match for the title. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.
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Chronology of the universe
Olga Calamai performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance show at the Teatro SMS of the People’s House in Grassina, Metropolitan City of Florence on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Guerri.
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Whispers
A protester clenches his fist as tens of thousands march through
香港 (Hong Kong), China in opposition to an unpopular extradition bill. Photo: 于秉宸 (Vincent Yú)/AP.
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Letters and Numbers
And finally, here is God’s number, represented by the initials of six people, including three teachers of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” (in alphabetical order: Alessandra, Chiara, and Viola), which Francesca — Matilde’s mom — has lovingly embroidered for them as a gift.
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Toastdancer
Appearance to the contrary notwithstanding, it will never happen that after finishing her drink Arianna Settembrini will end up eating the plastic glass.
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Six Four
From left to right: Chiara, Caterina, Matilde, and Emma, four of the six Rubik colours, enjoy their summertime hours on the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s magic carpet, just waiting for the next dance to be announced.
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