Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Going Viral

I use this thinking in important life decisions, like whether to pursue a full-time chess career or continue my studies. Playing chess full time would give me energy for tournaments, but I wasn’t sure that energy alone would take me further — it’s a probability game. Then I thought about what I could gain from studies: They would show my brain a bigger world view. There was no right or wrong decision — I had to follow my heart. I went to the UK to study for a Master’s in Public Policy at University of Oxford.
I was thrilled when my actions paid off. In 2020, I became a full-time professor at 深圳大学 (University of Shēnzhèn), China. [Read more].

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) celebrating her birthday at the 1st stage of FIDE Grand Prix 2017 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Photo courtesy of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) via Secure Futures by Kapersky.

Chess is in my heart. I began playing at age five and, at 14, became the youngest woman to qualify for the Grandmaster title. By 16, I was the youngest woman to win the Women’s World Chess Championship. A significant achievement, but it felt like just a stop on my journey. [Read more].

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