Wasteland

彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín) Chess Room: China’s Women in Chess

彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín), NetEase, August 10, 2020

A few days ago, 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University) held an appointment ceremony, naming 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), a Rhodes scholar and a four-time Women’s World Chess Champion, as a Professor of the School of Physical Education, Normal College (Faculty of Education), 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University). 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) became the youngest Professor in the history of 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University). This news is refreshing and encouraging to 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) chess community, which prosperity and reputation have amazingly increased from zero in the early 1990s to today’s heights, thanks to the unremitting efforts of many chess workers. In such a way we cannot fail to mention China’s and Asia’s first Woman Grandmaster, seven-time Chinese Women’s Chess Champion 刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán)!

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).

Born in 成都 (Chéngdū), 四川省 (Sìchuān province), in the early 1980s, when not yet 20 years of age, 刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) was coached by her brother-in-law 曾子林 (Céng Zilín). She shocked the world not only by her grace and beauty, but also by her bold, brave and daring chess games.

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) and 曾子林 (Céng Zilín).

The following is a highlight from 刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán)’s chess. After mistakenly opening the Kingside by 25. ... f6-f5?, Black just can’t stop White’s powerful attack.

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) – Ilse Guggenberger
10th Women’s Chess Olympiad; Lucerne, November 13, 1982
Spanish Game C98

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 0-0 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nd8 14. Nf1 Ne8 15. a4 Rb8 16. axb5 axb5 17. g4 g6 18. Ng3 Ng7 19. Bh6 f6 20. Qd2 Nf7 21. Be3 Bd7 22. Kh2 Ra8 23. Rab1 Qc8 24. Rg1 Kh8 25. Rg2 f5?

26. exf5 gxf5 27. gxf5 Nxf5 28. Qd3 Nd8 29. Rbg1 Nb7 30. Bh6 c4 31. Nxf5 Bxf5 32. Bxf8 1–0.

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) was awarded various titles and honours for her successes as both a player and an official: she has always been an example to us. Only one time I sat with her at the same board table. It was at the 28th Women’s Chess Olympiad in 1988. Together with 谢军 (Xiè Jūn) and 王苗 (Wáng Miáo), we took fourth place as a team.

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) playing Maia Grigorievna Chiburdanidze at the 28th Women’s Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 19, 1988.

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) retired soon afterwards. Later, she was “snatched” from Caïssa’s realm by “小柯” (“Xiǎo Kē”) — it was thus she always called her boyfriend and later husband 柯刚明 (Kē Gāngmíng) — and enjoined to “open up a wasteland” in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn). Well, perhaps it is a bit unfair to say this. As far as I know, “小柯” (“Xiǎo Kē”), who was already the Director of 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Cultural and Sports Bureau back then, wholly supported and encouraged 刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) to continue playing chess. However, she first chose to study at the university, and then worked as a coach at 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Chess Academy to finally become a dean. She has been passionately contributing to China’s chess for many years. And today, 刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán), although in her retirement age, is still the driving force of 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) chess community!

刘适兰 (Liú Shìlán) and 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín).

What is even more encouraging, is that now others will follow in her footsteps! 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Women’s World Champion, Rhodes Scholar, and Professor at 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University). I met and played “小侯” (“Xiǎo Hóu”) for the first time in the 1st Chinese Chess League in 2005. At the time, she represented 山东齐鲁 (Shāndōng Qílǔ) and I represented 深圳 (Shēnzhèn). Later, “小侯” (“Xiǎo Hóu”) was invited several times to take part in the super-tournaments at Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, just to increase our chances of meeting again. Finally, it happened to be there in the same year — “小侯” (“Xiǎo Hóu”), her mother and me. That was enough for a friendship to form.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and her mother, 王茜 (Wáng Qiàn), being dinner guests at 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín)’s house.

But the thing about “小侯” (“Xiǎo Hóu”) which I just can’t forget is the game I lost to her in the inaugural Chinese Chess League!
In my years-long professional chess career, I’ve won and I’ve lost. But this was another story, as I was then in my 30s and full of energy. I just was a fresh absolute Grandmaster, and yet I was beaten by a girl of 11 years! But what made me even more amazed was the strategic understanding of the game displayed by such a young girl!

彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st “火炬地产杯” (“Torch Real Estate Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 无锡 (Wúxī), May 11, 2005

Benoni Defence A43

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. dxe6 fxe6 8. e5 dxe5 9. Nxe5 Bxb5 10. Qxd8+ Bxd8 11. Nxb5 0-0 12. a4 Na6 13. c3 Nd5 14. Ke2 Bf6 15. Nc4 Nb8!

What shocked me the most was 15. ... Na6-b8! (intending ... Nb8-c6). Who could have guessed that so young a girl would come out with such a strategic jump of the misplaced Knight? Of course, even after that, White kept retaining a definite advantage, but my mind was upset, I played worse and worse, till my unexpected resignation. Here’s what it takes on the board to succeed — wit and courage, physical strength, and, last but not least, the will to win.
16. a5 Nc6 17. Be3 Be7 18. g3 Rad8 19. h4 a6 20. Nba3 Rf5 21. Nc2 h5 22. Rad1 Rdf8 23. Rhf1 Kh7 24. f4 Rd8 25. Bg1 Rff8 26. Bf2 Kg6 27. Kf3 e5 28. N2e3 Nxe3 29. Bxe3 Kf5 30. Rfe1 e4+ 31. Kg2 Rd3 32. Rxd3 exd3 33. Kf3 Rd8 34. Bd2 g6 35. Ne5 Nxa5 36. c4 Nb3 37. Bc3 Nd4+ 38. Bxd4 Rxd4 39. b3 Bf6 40. Nf7 Bg7 41. Rd1 b5 42. Rd2 Rd7 43. Ng5 Bc3 44. Rd1 d2 45. Ke3 b4 46. Nf3 Re7+ 47. Kf2 Re1 0–1.

Extraordinary tactical skills, combined with a natural strategic understanding, gave form to the thought of a young Women’s World Champion, with her crown still on top.
What follows is the perfect finale to the splendid Pawn sacrifice with which 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) launched her victorious assault against the World Youth Chess Champion Abdumalik from Kazakhstan in the recent Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Grand Prix. With so many of Black’s pieces on the Queenside and all White’s forces converging on the King, Abdumalik just can’t save herself.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Zhansaya Daniyarovna Abdumalik

1st Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Grand Prix; fourth leg; match game 9 (1+1); chess.com, July 16, 2020

Spanish Game C90

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. d3 d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. h3 g6 15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rc8 18. Bg5 Bg7 19. Rc1 h6 20. Bf4 Nc4 21. b3 Na3 22. Bd3 Qb6 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Be3 Qa5 25. Bd2 b4 26. Be3 Nd7 27. Qd2 Kh7 28. Be2 Nc5 29. Bf3 Re8 30. Bf4 d5 31. e5 Ne6 32. Nxe6 Rxe6 33. Bg4 Rc6

34. e6 fxe6 35. Bxe6 Rc2 36. Qd3 Qb5 37. Bg8+ Kxg8 38. Qxg6 Qc6 39. Re8+ Qxe8 40. Qxe8+ Kh7 41. Nf5 Nb5 42. Qf7 1–0.

I long to enjoy more of such wonderful games, and yet I can’t help but worry about the responsibilities of such a professorship, which will inevitably change the role of chess in society. Then I think about the big world, the sea and the sky. And broad-minded people with lofty ambitions and ideals. I hope they may all be as happy and balanced as they ride the wind and waves.
Anyway, 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) chess community has such a beatiful mind: may she be blessed!

(English translation by I, Robot)