祝融夫人 (Lady Zhùróng)

Last Sunday, China National Space Administration has released footage recorded by its 天问一号 (Tiānwèn-1) Mars probe. The videos and photos taken by the camera installed on the 祝融 (Zhùróng) rover of the 天问一号 (Tiānwèn-1) spacecraft show the lander deploying a parachute before touching down on the surface of Mars and the rover driving away from its landing platform.

Yes, Edna, the earth turns, but it always comes back to the same point, and where they were, where they are, where they will be

Photo © Sosan Events (@sosanevents)

Stuck in Go

People attend the 32nd Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. Nacho Doce/Reuters.

Come on, Edna, if you think well about it, you will come to the conclusion that you won the biggest award anyone can win

Artwork © EmptySet (@emptyset_art)

15（十五）

Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 28, 2021

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. b3!? Dernier cri.
6. ... e6 7. Bb2 Be7 8. Qd2 Qc7. Also interesting is 8. ... b5 9. f3 0-0 10. a4 b4 11. Nd1 a5 12. Ne3 Bb7 13. Rd1 d5 14. e5 Nfd7 15. f4 Nc5 16. Bd3 Nc6 17. 0-0 ½ : ½ Kr. Georgiev – Pintér, Zonal Tournament, Prague 1985) 9. 0-0-0 b5? Asking for trouble.

10. Bxb5+! Almost a classic. Three Pawns and the initative are well worth a piece. 10. ... axb5 11. Ndxb5 Qb6 12. Nxd6+ Bxd6 13. Qxd6 Nc6? Black had nothing better than to exchange Queens.

14. Nd5!+− exd5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Rhe1+ Be6 17. Rxd5 Qb7 18. Rc5. Also strong was 18. Bxg7 Rg8 19. Bf6 with decisive threats such as Re1xe6+.
18. ... Ra6?! 18. ... Rc8 is probably a little better — though, of course, after 19. Bxg7 Rg8 20. Bf6 White’s attack continues.
19. Rd1 Qa8 20. Bxg7 Ne7 21. Qd4 Rg8 22. Bf6 Nd5 23. a4 Nxf6 24. Qxf6 Bxb3 25. Rd6 Rxd6 26. Qxd6 Be6 27. Rb5 Qd8

28. Rb8? An impulsive move which throws away all attack. The right way was 28. Qe5! (actually threatening Rb5-b8) 28. ... Kd7 (28. ... Kf8 29. Rb8 Bc8 30. a5 transposes to the game) 29. Rb7+ Kc6 30. Qb5+ Kd6 31. f4!+− with deadly threats.
28. ... Bc8 29. Qe5+ Kf8? But 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) returns the favour. After 29. ... Kd7! Black is well and alive with nothing to worry about (if 30. Rb5 then 30. ... Qe7).
30. a5 Rxg2 31. Qc5+ Kg7 32. Rxc8 Rg1+ 33. Kb2 Qd1 34. Qf8+ Kg6 35. Rc6+ Kg5 36. Qg7+ Kf5 37. Qxf7+ 1 : 0.

14（十四）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Wesley So

1st Champions Chess Tour 2021; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 28, 2021

Spanish Game C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 0-0 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Nd2 d5 14. Nf3 g6 (14. ... Nd6 15. Bd3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Nxf5 ½ : ½ Dzhumaev – Iuldachev, 84th Uzbekistani Chess Championship, Tashkent 2019)
15. Bd3 Ng7 16. h3 c6 17. Bf4 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Qe2. And here a draw was agreed in Robson – Grischuk, 4th PRO Chess League Group Stage, chess.com, February 10, 2020 (time control: 10 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).

19. ... Bg7 20. Re1 Qa5 21. a3 Re8 22. Be5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Ne6 24. Qd2 Rd8 25. Ng5 Nxg5 26. Qxg5 Re8 27. Re3 Qd8 28. h4 h5 29. Qf4 c5 30. Rd3 Qd7 31. Qg5

31. ... d4 32. cxd4 cxd4 33. Qf6 Qd5 34. Qf4 Qxe5 35. Qxe5 Rxe5 36. Rxd4 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Re2 38. Rb4 Rxf2 39. Rxb7 a5 40. b4 axb4 41. Rxb4 Kg7 42. a4 Ra2 43. Kg3 f6 44. Rb7+ Kh6 45. Rb4 Ra3+ 46. Kf2 Ra2+ 47. Kg3 Ra3+ 48. Kf2 Ra2+ 49. Kg3 ½ : ½.

13（十三）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Levon Grigori Aronian

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 28, 2021

Italian Game C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Rc1 Nce7 12. Qb3 c6 13. Rfe1 Kh8 (13. ... Qb6 14. Qa3 Be6 15. Ne4 Rad8 16. Neg5⩲ Nf5 17. Rxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Rfe8 19. Nxd8 Rxd8 20. Qd3 g6 21. Bb3 Kg7 22. g3 Nf6 23. Qc4 Rd7 24. Rd1 Qa5 25. Ng5 Nd5 26. Ne6+ Kf6 27. Qe2 Re7 28. Qe5+ Kf7 29. Re1 Qb4 30. g4 Qxe1+ 31. Qxe1 Rxe6 32. Bxd5 cxd5 33. Qb4 Rb6 34. Qc5 Ne7 35. b3 Ke6 36. h4 Nc6 37. f4 Rb4 38. f5+ gxf5 39. gxf5+ Kxf5 40. Qxd5+ Kg4 41. Qd7+ Kf3 42. Qf5+ Ke3 43. d5 Nd4 44. Qe5+ Kf3 45. a3 1 : 0 Rossolimo – O’Kelly de Galway, 26th Hastings International Chess Congress, Hastings 1950)
14. Ne4 f6 15. h3!? b6 16. Qa3 a5 17. Bxd5. White is satisfied with winning a (not too valuable) Pawn — 17. Nc3!? Nb4 18. Qb3 was also interesting.
17. ... Nxd5 18. Rxc6 Bb7

19. Re6? A tactical oversight that costs White the Exchange. White had first to play 19. Rd6 Qc7 20. Re6 Nb4 21. Ng3 Bd5 22. Re7 Qc4 23. Rd7 Be6 24. Rb7 Bd5 with a draw by repetition.
19. ... Nb4 20. Nd6 Bd5 21. Qa4 Bxe6 22. Rxe6 Ra7 23. a3 Nd5 24. Nb5 Rd7 25. Qc4 Re8 26. Rc6 g6 27. Nc3 Kg7

28. Qb5 Ree7 29. Nxd5 Rxd5 30. Qxb6 Qxb6 31. Rxb6 h5 32. h4 g5. Perhaps 32. ... Rdd7 33. b4 Rb7 was a more promising way for Black to make good use of his (faint) chances. Now 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) draws without any special difficulty:
33. hxg5 fxg5 34. Ne5 Kh7 35. b3 g4 36. Kh2 Rxd4 37. Rb5 Rc7 38. f3 a4 39. bxa4 Rxa4 40. fxg4 hxg4 41. Rb4 Rxb4 42. axb4 Rb7 43. Nxg4 Rxb4 44. Ne5 Rb2 45. Nf3 Rxg2+ 46. Kxg2 ½ : ½.

12（十二）

Alireza Firouzja – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 28, 2021

French Defence C11

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5 9. a3 Qa5 10. dxc5 b4? It would have been better to take on c5 with the Bishop as usual.
11. Na2! Nxc5

12. axb4! A very strong novelty, with which White forces the gain of two Knights for a Rook (and temporarily a Pawn), in fact tormenting his oppenent to the very end. Previous theory gave 12. Nd4 Ne4 13. Nxc6 Qa4 14. Qc1 Qxc6 15. Nxb4± Tseshkovsky – Kobylkin, Krasnodar 2003 — which was already good enough for White.
12. ... Nxb4 13. c3 Nb3 (13. ... Nxa2 14. b4+−)
14. cxb4 Qa4 15. Qd1 Bd7 16. Kf2 Nxa1 17. Qxa1 Bxb4 18. Bd3 Be7 19. Qb1 Bb5 20. Bc2 Qc4 21. Nc3 Bc5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Kg3 h6 24. Qg1 Qxg1 25. Rxg1 Ke7 26. Nd4 Rhc8 27. Ra1 Bd7 28. Kf3 Rab8 29. Ra2 Rb4 30. Ke3 a5 31. h4 a4

32. Bd3 (32. f5 Rcc4!)
32. ... Rcb8 33. Nd1 h5 34. Ra3 Rc8 35. Ra1 g6 36. Nc2 Rb3 37. Kd2 Rc7 38. Ra2 Rcb7 39. Nd4 R3b6 40. Ra3 Rc7 41. g3 Rb4 42. Ne2 d4 43. Nc1 Bc6 44. Bc2 Bb5 45. Na2 Rbc4 46. Bd3 R4c5 47. Nb4 Bxd3 48. Kxd3 Rc1 49. Nf2 Rb1 50. Rxa4 Rxb2 51. Ne4 Rb3+ 52. Kxd4 Rb7 53. Nd3 R3b5 54. Nf6 Rb8 55. Ke3 Rb3 56. Ne4 R8b5 57. Ra7+ Rb7 58. Ra8 Rb8 59. Ra4 R8b5 60. Nf6 Rb8 61. Ke4 R3b5 62. Rc4 R5b7 63. Ke3 Rd8 64. Nb4 Kf8 65. Ne4 Rdb8 66. Nd3 Ra7 67. Nd6 Ra3 68. Ke4 Rbb3 69. Rd4 Ra7 70. Nc4 Rc7 71. Nd2 Rbb7 72. Ke3 Rd7 73. Rc4 Ra7 74. Rc3 Rdc7 75. Nc5 Ke7 76. Nde4 Ra5 77. Kd4 Rb5 78. Ra3 Rb4+ 79. Ke3 Rb5 80. Nd3 Rb8 81. Nd6 Kf8 82. Nf2 Rb1 83. Nfe4

83. ... Ke7 84. Ng5. In spite of her heroic defence, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) must eventually surrender:
84. .... Rbc1 85. Ngxf7 R1c3+ 86. Rxc3 Rxc3+ 87. Kf2 Rc2+ 88. Kf3 Rc3+ 89. Kg2 Rc2+ 90. Kh3 Kf8 91. Ng5 Ke7 92. Nb5 Rc4 93. Nd6 Rc2 94. Nde4 Kd7 95. Nf7 Ke7 96. Nfd6 Kf8 97. Nb5 Ke7 98. Ng5 Rc4 99. Kg2 Kd7 100. Kf3 Rb4 101. Nc3 Rb3 102. Ne4 Ke7 103. Ke3 Rb4 104. Ne2 Rb3+ 105. Kd2 Rb4 106. Kd3 Rb3+ 107. N4c3 Ra3 108. Nd4 Ra1 109. Ne4 Ra3+ 110. Ke2 Ra2+ 111. Nd2 Ra1 112. N2f3 Ra2+ 113. Ke3 Ra3+ 114. Kf2 Ra2+ 115. Kf1 Ra3 116. Kg2 Ra4 117. Kh3 Rc4 118. g4 hxg4+ 119. Kxg4 Ra4 120. Kg5 Kf7 121. Kh6 Ra8 122. Ng5+ Ke7 123. Kg7 Ra1 124. Kxg6 1 : 0.

11（十一）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Santosh Gujrathi Vidit

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 28, 2021

Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Nd5 Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. c4 b4 13. Nc2 0-0 14. Be2 a5 15. 0-0 Bg5 16. Bg4 Be6 17. h3 g6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Nde3 Kg7!?TN (19. ... Qc7 19. Qd3 Nd8 20. a3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 bxa3 22. Qxa3 Rb8 23. Qxa5 Qxa5 24. Rxa5 Rxb2 25. Rb5 Rxb5 26. cxb5 Nb7 27. Ra1 Nc5 28. f3 Rb8 29. Nc4 d5 30. exd5 exd5 31. Nxe5 Rxb5 32. Ra7 d4 33. Nd7 Nxd7 ½ : ½ Álvarez Abejón – Cabañas Jiménez, Semifinal A of the Madrid Individual Championship 2009–10, Madrid 2010)
20. Qd3 Rb8 21. Rad1 Be7

22. c5!? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gives up a Pawn to gain some scope for her pieces, as 22. b3 Qb6 would give Black an easy equality.
22. ... dxc5 23. Qb3. 23. Qd7 deserved consideration here, and if 23. ... Qc8 then 24. Qxc8 Rfxc8 25. Rd7 followed by Ne3-c4.
23. ... Qc8 24. Nc4 Qa6 25. Rd7 (Δ Nc4xe5)
25. ... Rbd8 26. Nxe5 c4 27. Qe3? After this, Vidit definitely gets the upper hand. White ought to play 27. Qg3 Rxd7 28. Nxd7 Rd8 29. Qc7.
27. ... Rxd7 28. Nxd7 Rd8 29. Nc5 Qc8 30. Na4 Qc7 31. Qe2 Ne5 32. Rd1 Nd3 33. Ne3 Bh4 34. Rf1 Qc6 35. Qg4 Bf6 36. b3 c3 37. Qe2 Qxe4 38. Nb6 Bh4 39. Nbc4 a4 40. g3 Bg5 41. h4 Bxe3 42. fxe3 Rd5 43. Kh2 Ne5 44. Rf4 Qb1 45. e4 Rd1 46. Qf2 g5? A dramatic mistake that provides 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) with an unhoped opportunity for escape. Simply 46. ... Nd7!−+ would have left White with no resource.

47. Qa7+? But she misses it, too! That is, 47. Nxe5! gxf4 (or 47. ... Rd2 48. Rf7+ with perpetual check) 48. Qa7+ Kf6 49. Ng4+ drawing by perpetual check.
47. ... Rd7 48. Qc5 Qc2+ 49. Kh3 g4+ 50. Rxg4+ Nxg4 51. Qg5+ Kf8 52. Qf4+ Rf7 53. Qxg4 Qd3 54. Qg5 Qf1+ 55. Kg4 Rg7 0 : 1.

Oh, Edna, it is strange that a Professor such as you doesn’t know that the only way to make him happy on a Monday is to kick him out of class

10（十）

Arjun Erigaisi – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 27, 2021

Nimzo-Indian Defence E46

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd2!? b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. Bd3 Bxc3?! (7. ... d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. 0-0)
8. Bxc3 Ne4 9. Bxe4 Bxe4 10. d5! c5? Indian Grandmaster Kannappan Priyadharshan, in his analysis for Chess Informant (Šahovski Informator) issue No. 149, gives his preference to the following continuations:
a) 10. ... f6 11. Nh4!? (11. Nd2 Bg6 12. h4 h6 13. Qg4↑) 11. ... Qe8 12. f3 Bg6 13. e4⩲);
b) 10... exd5 11. Qd4! f6 (11. ... Qf6 12. Qxf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Bxf6⩲) 12. cxd5 Re8 13. Nd2 Bg6 14. 0-0⩲.
11. Nd2 (11. h4!?)

11. ... Bf5?! A new idea, but not a good one. On the other hand, 11. ... Bxg2?? is out of question on account of 12. Qg4+−, while after 11. ... exd5 then 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qg4 f6 14. Qxe4 Nc6 15. Rd1± White stands clearly better (Priyadharshan). Finally, if 11. ... Bg6 then 12. h4 exd5 13. cxd5 h6 14. Qg4 h5 15. Qf3 Qe8 16. g4 f6 17. Rg1 Na6 18. Qf4 Kh7 19. gxh5 Bxh5 20. a3 Qf7 21. Ne4 Qxd5 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7 23. Nxf6 Qh1+ 24. Kd2 Qg2 25. Ng4+ 1 : 0 Blübaum – Zysk, 1st Josef Kupper Memorial, Zürich 2019.
12. e4. ⌓ 12. Qf3 Na6 13. e4 exd5 14. cxd5! (14. exf5?? Re8+ 15. Kf1 d4⩲) 14. ... Bg6 15. h4+− (Priyadharshan).
12. ... exd5 13. cxd5. After 13. exf5?? Re8+ 14. Kf1 d4 Black regains the piece with interest.

13. ... Re8? Perhaps the best way to give a sense to 11. ... Bf5 is 13... Bxe4 14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. f3 f5 16. 0-0 fxe4 17. Re1 e3 18. Qd3 Re8 19. Re2 Qd6 20. Rxe3 Rxe3 21. Qxe3± (Priyadharshan).
14. Qf3 Bg6

15. h4! h5 16. g4! Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Qe7 18. 0-0-0. ⌓ 18. Kd2 (Priyadharshan).
18. ... Qxe4 19. Qxe4 Rxe4 20. gxh5 f6 21. Rdg1 Kh7. 21. ... Re7 22. Rg6 may well transpose to the game.
22. Rg6 Na6 23. Rhg1 Re7

24. h6! Nb4 (24. ... gxh6 25. d6 Rf7 26. Bxf6+−)
25. Bxb4 cxb4 26. Rxg7+ Rxg7 27. hxg7 Kg8. Or 27. ... Rg8 28. Kc2 Rxg7 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. Kb3 Kg6 31. Kxb4 Kh5 32. Kb5 Kxh4 33. Ka6 Kg4 34. a4 Kf3 35. Kxa7 Kxf2 36. Kxb6+− (Priyadharshan).
28. h5 Rc8+ 29. Kd2 Rc5 30. h6 Rxd5+ 31. Ke3 Rh5 32. Rg6 Rh3+ 33. f3 1 : 0.

9（九）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Dommaraju Gukesh

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 27, 2021

Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a3 0-0 14. Be2 Bb7 15. Ncb4 Ne7. Or also 15. ... a5 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. 0-0 g6 18. Qd3 Bd7 19. Rad1 Be6 20. Bf3 Kg7 21. Rfe1 Qc8 22. h3 h5 23. Be2 Rb7 24. Qg3 Qd8 25. Qd3 Qc8 26. Qg3 Qd8 27. Qd3 ½ : ½ 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Carlsen, 8th World Blitz Chess Championship, Moscow 2019.
16. Nxe7+?!TN (16. 0-0 Kh8 17. Qd3 a5 18. Nxe7 axb4 19. Nd5 bxa3 20. Rxa3 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 b4 22. Ra7 bxc3 23. bxc3 Rc8 24. Bc4 Rc5 25. Qd3 Rc7 26. Rfa1 g6 27. g3 Kg7 28. h4 Be7 29. Kg2 Qd7 30. Rxc7 Qxc7 31. Qd5 Bf6 32. Rb1 Rc8 33. Rb7 Qxb7 34. Qxb7 Rxc4 35. Qb3 Rxe4 36. Qd5 Re2 37. h5 gxh5 38. Qd1 Rb2 39. Qxh5 h6 40. Qd1 e4 41. Qg4+ Kf8 42. Qf4 Bxc3 43. Qxh6+ Ke7 44. Qh4+ Bf6 45. Qxe4+ Kf8 46. Qf4 Be5 47. Qe3 Rb8 48. f4 Bg7 49. Qd3 Ke7 50. Qe4+ Kf8 51. Qd5 Ke7 52. Kf3 Bf8 53. g4 Bg7 54. g5 Rb4 55. Qc6 Rb3+ 56. Kg4 Rc3 57. Qb7+ Kf8 58. Qd7 Kg8 59. Qxd6 Bf8 60. Qd5 Rc5 61. Qd8 Rc6 62. Qd7 Rd6 63. Qc8 Rd1 64. Qc4 Rb1 65. Qd5 Kg7 66. Kh5 Rc1 67. Qb3 Kg8 68. Kg4 Rg1+ 69. Kf5 Rg2 70. Qc4 Rg1 71. Kf6 Bg7+ 72. Ke7 Re1+ 73. Kd7 Rd1+ 74. Kc6 Rd4 75. Qb3 Bf8 76. f5 Rd6+ 77. Kc7 Ra6 78. Qd5 Ra7+ 79. Kb6 Re7 80. Kc6 Ra7 81. Kb6 Re7 82. Qc4 Re5 83. Qg4 Rd5 84. Qe4 Rd1 85. Kc7 Bd6+ 86. Kc8 Bf8 87. Qc4 Rd6 88. Kc7 Kg7 89. Qe4 Kg8 90. f6 Re6 91. Qf5 Re3 92. g6 Rg3 93. gxf7+ Kxf7 94. Kd7 Re3 95. Qh5+ Kxf6 96. Qh4+ Kg6 97. Qg4+ Kh7 98. Qf5+ 1 : 0 Timofeev – Banikas, 10th European Individual Chess Championship, Budva 2009)
16. ... Qxe7 17. Nd5 Qe6 18. h4 Bd8. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s innovation has produced nothing good for her, while Black’s Bishop pair can soon become dangerous.

19. c4? An oversight — losing a Pawn and conceding her opponent too much initiative. 19. Qd3 f5! is also quite critical, so maybe 19. g4!? (19. ... a5!?) was worth a try.
19. ... Qg6 20. Bf3 bxc4 21. Rc1 Bxd5 22. Qxd5

22. ... Rb5! 23. Qc6 (23. Qxc4?? Rc5−+)
23. ... Ba5+ 24. Kf1 Rxb2 25. Rxc4 (25. Qxc4 Bb6 26. Rc2 d5!−+)
25. ... Qh6 26. Qd5 Bb6 27. Qd3 Rxf2+ 28. Ke1 Ra2 29. Rh3 Qf4 30. Rc2 Rxc2 31. Qxc2 Qe3+ 32. Be2 Qf2+ 33. Kd1 Qg1+ 34. Kd2 Ba5+ 0 : 1.

8（八）

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 27, 2021

English Opening A30

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. 0-0 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. e4 0-0 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 a6 12. Rfe1 Qc7 13. Qd2 Rfe8 14. Nd4 Rad8 15. Rad1 Bf8 16. h3 Nc5 (16. ... Qb8 17. Ba1 Qa8 18. Kh2 Nc5 19. Qc2 Rc8 20. Qb1 Red8 21. Re3 g6 22. f4 Bg7 23. Nde2 ½ : ½ Kasparov – Gipslis, 7th Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, Moscow 1979)
17. Qe2

17. ... d5! Black has fully equalised, to say the least.
18. e5 Nfe4 19. Qc2 Nxc3 20. Qxc3 dxc4 21. Qxc4 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Rd5 23. Nf3 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Qxd8 26. Bd4 Qa8 27. Bxc5 Bxc5 28. Qd3 h6 29. Kg1 Qd5 30. Qxd5 exd5 31. Ne1 Kf8 32. Kg2 Ke7 33. f4 Ke6 34. Kf3 g5

35. Nc2 gxf4 36. gxf4 b5 37. Ne1 h5 38. Nd3 Bb6 39. Nb4 a5! 40. Nc2 f6 41. exf6 Kxf6 42. Ne1 Kf5 43. Ng2 Bc5 44. Nh4+ Kf6 45. Ng2 a4 46. Ne1 axb3 47. axb3 Kf5 48. Ng2 Bb6 49. Nh4+ Kf6 50. Ng2 Kf5 51. Nh4+ Kf6 52. Ng2 Kf5 ½ : ½.

7（七）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Baskaran Adhiban

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 27, 2021

Spanish Game C78

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. d3 0-0 9. Be3 Bb6 10. h3 Ne7 11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. d4. Apparently a novelty, although not so different from 12. a4 Rb8 13. d4 Qe7 14. a5 exd4 15. cxd4 Ba7 16. e5 Ne8 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. Re1 d5 19. Nf1 c6 20. Ng3 Nc7 21. Bc2 Ne6 22. Nf5 c5 23. h4 cxd4 24. h5 Ngf4 25. h6 Nxg5 26. hxg7 Re8 27. Nxg5 d3 28. Bxd3 Nxd3 29. Nh6+ Kxg7 30. Qxd3 Kxh6 31. Qxh7+ Kxg5 32. Qg7+ Kh5 33. Qh7+ Kg5 34. Qg7+ Kh5 35. Ra3 Bxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Qf5+ 37. Rf3 Qc2+ 38. Re2 Qg6 39. Rxf7 Qxg7 40. Rxg7 Kh6 41. Rg3 Kh7 42. Re1 Re6 43. Rh1+ Rh6 44. Rxh6+ Kxh6 45. Rg8 Ra8 46. Rd8 Bb7 47. Rd7 Rb8 48. e6 Bc6 49. Rd6 Rc8 50. e7+ Kg7 51. Rxc6 Ra8 52. Rxa6 Re8 53. Re6 1 : 0 Arakhamia-Grant – Bhatia, 13th Four Nations Chess League — Division 1, Birmingham 2005. For the interested readers, this game was deeply annotated by Grandmaster Jon Speelman in his Agony Column #45 for ChessBase.
12. ... c5 13. Re1 Bb7 14. Bc2 h6 15. a4 Re8 16. d5 c4 17. b3 cxb3 18. Nxb3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nfd2 Nf4 22. Na5 Nd7

23. c4! bxc4 24. Ba4!? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is desperately looking for her first win in the tournament and doesn’t hesitate to take risks to make her goal. Objectively speaking, 24. Naxc4 Nc5 25. Rea3⩲ might have been a better modus operandi.
24. ... Rf8 25. Bc6!? Consistent — and consistently controversial. A safer continuation was, probably, 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Naxc4 Bc8 27. Kh2 f5 with a double-edged, but essentially balanced game.
25. ... Bc8 26. Naxc4 Nc5 27. Ra7 Ba6 28. Kh2 Rb4 29. Qc2

29. ... Qb8? An oversight that loses a crucial Pawn. Both 29. ... Qf6! and also 29... Qh4! gave Black a powerful initiative.
30. Ra8 Qc7 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Nxe5! Qe7 33. Nef3? (33. Nec4! Δ 33. ... Nfd3 34. e5!)
33. ... Nfd3 34. Qc3 Qf6? (⌓ 34. ... Kg8 35. Qa3 Rb6)
35. Qa3 Kg8 (35. ... Rb6 36. e5!+−)
36. Rxd3! The beginning of the end.
36. ... Nxd3 37. Qxa6 Nxf2? And finally the Black Knight self-traps itself. But other moves do not save either.
38. Qe2 Nxe4 39. Nxe4 Qf4+ 40. Ng3 h5 41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. h4 g6 43. Qe7 Kg7 44. Qg5 Qxg5 45. hxg5 f6 46. Bd7 fxg5 47. Nxg5 Kf6 48. N3e4+ Ke5 49. Be6 Kf4 50. g3+ Ke5 51. Kh3 Ra4 52. Nc3 Ra5 53. Nf3+ Kf6 54. Ne4+ Ke7 55. Nh4 1 : 0.

6（六）

Vladislav Mikhailovich Artemiev – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 27, 2021

Torre Attack D03

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nd2 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Ngf3 Be7 7. Bd3 0-0 8. 0-0 b6 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. f4 Bb7 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qh6 f6 15. exf6. 15. Nf3 fxe5 16. fxe5 Rxf3! gave interesting play in Dragomirescu – Ciolac, 39th Romanian Team Chess Championship, Bucharest 1994.
15. ... Nxf6 16. Qg5 a5 17. Rae1 Ba6? Allows White to push his e-Pawn. 17. ... Rf7 was a better reply: 18. Rd1 Nd7 19. Qg3 c4 20. Bc2 b5 21. Nf3 b4 22. h4 Rg7 23. Rf2 Rf8 24. Rff1 Nf6 25. Rb1 Bc8 26. Ne5 Qc5 27. Rf3 Nd7 28. Ng4 Bb7 29. Qe1 Qe7 30. Nh6+ Kh8 31. Rf1 Ba6 32. Rd1 b3 33. Bb1 bxa2 34. Bxa2 Nf6 35. Bb1 Qc5 36. Rd2 Bb7 37. g4 Ng8 38. Nxg8 Kxg8 39. Bc2 Bc6 40. g5 a4 41. Bd1 Rgf7 42. Bg4 Qe7 43. Qg3 e5 44. Kh2 exf4 45. Rxf4 Bd7 46. Rxf7 ½ : ½ Manarin – Vahvaselkä, WS/H/645, by e-mail, 2017.

18. Bxa6 Rxa6 19. e4 Qf7?! And if it were not enough, this enables White to push his f-Pawn too.
20. f5! exf5 21. exf5 b5 22. fxg6 Qxg6 23. Qe5 Ra7 24. Re3 Rg7 25. Rg3

25. ... Qf7? 25. ... Qe8 was a much tougher defence, when White has probably nothing better than 26. Rxg7+ (the gain of a Pawn by 26. Qxe8 Nxe8 27. Rxg7+ Nxg7 28. Rxf8 Kxf8 29. Nb3 Ne6 30. Nxa5 Nf4 leads to a Knight ending that looks more drawn than won) 26. ... Kxg7 27. Qc7+ Nd7 28. Nf3!? with a definite edge but no forced win. Now, instead, everything comes very easy to Artemiev:
26. Nb3 c4 27. Nd4 Rxg3 28. Qxg3+ Qg6 29. Qd6 Rf7 30. Nf5 Qg5 31. Qe6 Kf8 32. Nd6 1 : 0.

Oh, yes, Edna it was a very noble thing of you to let him win

Artwork © Ice meow 喵會長 (@uhe309)

5（五）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Daniil Dmitrievich Dubov

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 26, 2021

Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6!?

The so-called Stafford Gambit. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), however, doesn’t bite the bait and goes for more familiar patterns.
4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3 (5. Qe2 Qe7)
5. ... Nf6 6. d4 d5 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. c3 Ne4 10. c4 Nb4 11. Be2 Bf5 12. a3 Nc6 13. Nc3 dxc4 14. Bxc4 h6 15. Bd3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Qf6 17. Rb1 b6 18. Rb5 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Rad8 20. a4 Rfe8 21. Be3 Ne7 22. h3 c5 23. a5 Nd5 24. axb6 axb6 25. Bd2 Nc7 26. Rbb1 b5 27. Rfe1. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) actually managed to resist the chant of Dubov’s sirens, but at the price of having a slightly uncomfortable position.
27. ... c4 28. Qc2 Qg6 29. Qxg6 fxg6 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Kf1 Kf7

32. d5! “The best defence is a good offence”.
32. ... Rb8 33. Nd4 Rb7 34. Be3 Ke8 35. Nc6 Nxd5

36. Bd4? This qui pro quo has serious consequences. 36. Na5! at once was called for; a sample line may be: 36. ... Nxe3+ 37. fxe3 Rb8 38. Nc6 Rb6 39. Na7 with very good drawing chances.
36. ... Kd7! 37. Na5? Lost time never returns.
37. ... Rb8 38. Ba7 (38. Bxg7 Bc7−+)
38. ... Nxc3 39. Rc1 (39. Nxc4 Ra8−+)
39. ... Ra8 40. Bd4 Na2 41. Nxc4 bxc4 42. Rxc4 Bf8 43. Be5 Ke6 44. f4 Nb4 45. Bxg7 Nd5 46. Bxf8. It is as bad a way as another to surrender.
46. ... Ne3+ 0 : 1.

4（四）

Jan-Krzysztof Duda – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 26, 2021

Queen’s Indian Defence E16

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 a5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Bf4 Be7 9. Qc2 Be4 10. Qd2 Bb7 11. Nc3 Bb4!? No doubt better than 11. ... Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5 d6 15. Nd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Bf6 17. Rac1 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Na6 19. Bd2 Qe7 20. e4 Nc5 21. Rfe1 Qe5 22. Qxe5 dxe5 23. Rc4 c6 24. dxc6 Rfc8 25. Be3 Rxc6 26. Rec1 Rac8 27. b3 Ra8 28. a3 Re6 29. Bxc5 bxc5 30. Rxc5 g6 31. Rb5 Rd6 32. Rc3 a4 33. b4 Rad8 34. Ra5 Rd2 35. Rxa4 Re2 36. Re3 Rxe3 37. fxe3 Rd2+ 38. Kf3 Rxh2 39. b5 h5 40. b6 g5 41. g4 1 : 0 Lesovoi – Ufimtsev, 3rd Kortschnoi Memorial Open, Saint Petersburg 2019.
12. Qc2 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 d6 14. Rad1 Be4 15. Rfe1 Nbd7 16. Bf1 Qe7 17. Nd2 Bb7 18. e4 e5 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. c5 bxc5 23. f3 a4 24. Nc4 Rfe8 25. Ne3 g6 26. Rc1

26. ... Nh7?! Going for tactics. 27. ... Nd7 seems adequate to maintain the balance.
27. Qxc5 Ng5 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Kf2 Ne6? Black keeps pursuing chimeras. ⌓ 29. ... Kg7 30. Bc4⩲↑ was an imperative for survival.
30. Ng4 Nd4

31. Rc5! Mercilessly! 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was perhaps hoping for 31. Nxh6+ Kg7 32. Ng4 Bc8 33. Ne3 Rb8 reorganising and recoordinating at best her forces, but Duda proceeds systematically, square by square, towards an irreproachable technical victory.
31. ... Ne6 32. Rxe5 h5 33. Ne3 Rd7 34. Bc4 Rd2+ 35. Re2 Rad8 36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Ra5! R8d4 38. Nc2 Rd6 39. Nb4 R2d4 40. a3 Rc4 41. Ke3 c5 42. Rc2! Rxc2 43. Nxc2 Rb6 44. Rxc5 Rxb2 45. Kf4 Kf7 46. Rc7+ Ke8 47. Nb4 1 : 0.

3（三）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anish Giri

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 26, 2021

Spanish Game C78

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. h3 Bb7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Bd5 0-0 13. a4 Rab8 14. axb5 axb5 15. Na3. White has hardly anything better than 15. dxe5 in order to exchange as many pieces as possible with an aim for equality.
15. ... exd4 16. Nxb5 dxc3 17. Nxc3 Nd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Nd5 Qe5 21. Ne7+ Qxe7 22. Qxd4 Rfb8. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) came out badly from the opening and now she has to pay the price.

23. Ra6. By giving up the b-Pawn — at least in this way — White was probably hoping for dynamic compensation, but nothing of what she waited for is going to happen.
23. ... Rxb2 24. Rc6 R2b4 25. Qc3 Rb1 26. Qc2 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Qf6 28. Rc3 Rb1+ 29. Ke2 Rb4 30. Kf1 Rb1+ 31. Ke2 g6 32. g3 Qd4 33. Kf3 c5 34. Rd3 Qf6+ 35. Kg2 Rb6 36. Qc4 Qe6 37. Qd5 Qxd5 38. Rxd5 f6 39. h4 Kf7 40. h5! A last ditch try.

40. ... gxh5? And it worked! Correct is 40. ... g5! followed by ... Kf7-e6 which leaves Black with a winning endgame.
41. Rxh5 Rb4 42. Kf3 Kg6 43. Rd5 Rd4. The show must go on, but the Pawn ending is also drawn!
44. Rxd4 cxd4 45. Ke2 Kg5 46. f3 f5 47. f4+ Kf6 48. Kd3 fxe4+ 49. Kxe4 h5 50. Kxd4 Kf5 51. Kd5 h4 52. gxh4 Kxf4 53. Kxd6 Kg4 54. h5 Kxh5 ½ : ½.

2（二）

Magnus Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 26, 2021

Queen’s Gambit Accepted D27

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. 0-0 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. a4. Theoretically speaking, there even may be a drawish tendency, but in practice it’s not the ideal position to be in against a technician such as the 16th World Champion.
13. ... b4 14. a5 Bd8 15. Na4 Bd5 16. Nbc5!? Carlsen goes on his way, although the more natural 16. Nac5 has worked well for White in recent times: 16. ... Be7 17. Nxa6 Kd8 18. Rxd5 Nxd5 19. e4 Nc7 20. Nxc7 Kxc7 21. Bf4+ e5 22. Be3 Rhb8 23. a6 Rb6 24. Bxb6+ Kxb6 25. Ra5 Ra7 26. Rb5+ Kc7 27. Ra5 Kb6 28. Rb5+ Kc7 29. Rd5 Bd6 30. Nd2 Nc5 31. Nc4 Bf8 32. Nxe5 f6 33. Nf3 Nxa6 34. Nd4 Kb6 35. Rb5+ 1 : 0 白金石 (Bái Jīnshí) – 王一业 (Wáng Yīyè), 13th “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League, 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 2017.
16. ... Bxa5 17. Bd2 0-0 18. Rdc1 Rfc8 19. Bxa6 Rc7 20. Bb5 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 h6 22. Na6 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 Bb7 24. Nc5 Bd5 25. f3

25. ... b3? Eager to simplify matters, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) ends up giving up a Pawn for no compensation, offering her opponent the opportunity to display his superb technique. 25. ... Bb6! 26. Bxb4 Rb8 was probably the right way to execute the idea.
26. Bxa5 Rxa5 27. Ba4. The b-Pawn falls and with it the game.
27. ... Kf8 28. e4 Ba8 29. Bxb3 Ke7 30. Ba4 Ra7 31. b4 Ne8. Black’s ending was probably lost anyway, but the text only shortens the end.
32. Bxe8 Kxe8 33. b5 Rc7 34. b6 Rc8

35. Ra1! Bc6 (35... Rb8 36. b7!+−)
36. b7 Rb8 37. Ra6! 1 : 0. In fact, after 37. ... Bxb7 38. Rb6 White wins the Bishop.

“It was a difficult game for her in the sense that she never had any real counterchances. She was also struggling to stay afloat, and then it’s easy to make mistakes eventually”, Carlsen finally said. Screenshot from the live stream.

1（一／壹）

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – A. R. Saleh Salem

1st Champions Chess Tour; 7th stage; Goldmoney Asian Rapid; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 26, 2021

Caro-Kann Defence B15

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 0-0 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 10. Be3 Nd7 11. Ng3 Nb6 12. 0-0-0 Nd5 13. Bd2 Nf4 14. Bxf4 Bxf4+ 15. Kb1 Qa5

16. d5! An important detail, improving on 16. Bh7+ Kf8 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18. Nxf5 g6 which proved to be comfortable enough for Black in Abdumalik – Lenderman, 1st Spring Chess Classic (Group B), Saint Louis 2017.
16. ... h4 17. Nf5 cxd5. It is better this way because 17. ... Qxd5? 18. Ne7+ Rxe7 19. Bh7+ costs the Queen.
18. g3 Bxf5 19. Bxf5 Bh6 20. Rd4 Re5 21. Rhd1 hxg3

22. hxg3. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shows a wise caution. However, the zwischenzug 22. f4! might have put Black to the test.
22. ... Rae8 23. Bd7 R8e7 24. Bg4 g6 25. Bf3 Kg7 26. Rxd5 Qb6 27. a4 a5 28. Rd6 Qc5 29. R6d4 b5 30. axb5 Qxb5 31. Rd5 Qb6 32. Rd6 Qc5 33. R6d5 Qb6 34. Rd6 Qa7 35. R6d4 Qb6 36. Rd6 ½ : ½.

Well, Edna, probably you know that the last thing you should want is to be in that top 10 percent, but, as Chesterton said, “if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly”

Artwork © Draw’s Corner (@drawscorner)

Around the World in 60 Seconds

Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Quarterfinal match game 15; time control: 1 minute plus 1 second per move; chess.com, June 25, 2021

English Defence A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Bb4+ 5. Kf1!? Be7. Another possibility is 5. ... c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Nf3 Ne7 8. Bf4 and now not 8. ... Na6? (⌓ 8. ... d5) on account of 9. d5 0-0 10. Bd6 Re8 11. h4! Nc8 12. Bg3 exd5 13. exd5 Qf6 14. Qc2 h6 15. Nbd2! Nd6 16. h5 Bxd2 17. Nxd2 b5 18. cxb5 Nc7 19. Qc3!+− 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Short, 123rd New Zealand Open, Devonport 2016. 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. g3 Bf6 9. Kg2 Ne7 10. Be3 c5 11. d5 Bxc3 12. bxc3 0-0!? By an inversion of moves Black deviates from the course of a relatively recent game: 12. ... Ng6 13. Nd2 0-0 14. f4 exd5 15. cxd5 f5 16. c4 b5⇄ Wagner – Iturrizaga Bonelli, 13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Catalan Bay 2015. 13. Qd2 h6!? Quite provocatively, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is inviting her opponent to take a walk on the sharp edges, perhaps specultating that she will not have the courage to take such a course. The alternative was, of course, 13. ... Ng6 with a comfortable equality.

14. h4? And thus it goes. Assaubayeva refrains from the almost called for Bishop sacrifice 14. Bxh6! gxh6 15. Qxh6 f6! 16. e5 Rf7 17. exd6 Nf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Rhe1 b5!∞ with great complications. 14. ... f5! Black takes the upper hand to get at the end of the rainbow: 15. Rae1 (15. Bxh6 fxe4!) 15. ... fxe4 16. Bxe4 Nf6 17. Bxh6!? Nxe4 18. Rxe4 exd5 19. Rg4 Nf5 20. Bg5 Qd7 21. cxd5

21. ... Ne3+! 22. Qxe3 (22. fxe3 Qxg4) 22. ... Qxg4 23. Rd1 Rae8 24. Qd3 c4 25. Nh2 Qxg5 0 : 1.

Just think how many wonderful things can happen in a minute. Screenshot from the live stream.

Thru the Wire

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva

2nd Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Quarterfinal match game 6; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, June 25, 2021

Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Qe3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. c4 Nd7 10. Nc3 Nc5. Or, by transposition, 10. ... a6 11. b3 Nc5 12. Bb2 Be6 13. Rfd1 Qa5 14. Rab1 Rac8 15. Nd5 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 Qa3 17. Rbd2 f6 18. Ne1 Nd7 19. Nd3 Bf7 20. Bg4 e6 21. N3f4 exd5 22. Bxd7 d4 23. Qe2 Rcd8 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Rxd4 Rfe8 26. Qd2 Kg7 27. Qc2 Re5 28. Ne2 Rde8 29. Nc3 R5e6 30. Qd2 Qb4 31. Kh1 Qa5 32. f3 f5 33. exf5 gxf5 34. Rd3 Qe5 35. Qf2 Kh8 36. Qd4 c5 37. Qxe5+ dxe5 38. Na4 e4 39. fxe4 fxe4 40. Re3 Bg6 41. Rd7 Re5 42. Rc7 Rf8 43. Rxc5 Re6 44. Nc3 Rf2 45. Rd5 Rc2 46. Kh2 Rf6 47. Nxe4 Re6 48. Rd4 Rxa2 49. Kg3 Ra5 50. Kf3 Rf5+ 51. Ke2 Rfe5 52. Kd3 a5 53. g4 Re7 54. h4 h6 55. Re2 Kg7 56. Re1 Bh7 57. Re3 Bg6 58. h5 Bh7 59. Re2 Kh8 60. Re1 Kg7 61. Re3 Kh8 62. Re1 Kg7 63. Re2 Kh8 64. Re3 Kg7 65. Re1 Kh8 66. Re2 Kg7 67. Re3 Kh8 68. c5 Rxc5 69. Ke2 Rce5 70. Kf3 Rf7+ 71. Kg3 Kg7 72. Re2 Rb7 73. Kf4 Rxe4+ 74. Rexe4 Bxe4 75. Rxe4 Rxb3 76. Re7+ Kg8 77. Ra7 Rb5 78. Ra6 Kg7 79. Ra7+ Kg8 80. Ra6 Kg7 81. Ra7+ ½ : ½ 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Pogonina, 1st World Mind Sports Games, Women’s Individual Rapid Tournament, 北京 (Běijīng) 2008. 11. Rd1 Ne6?! A novelty of very dubious merit. Hence, Black ought to play 11. ... f5 12. exf5 gxf5 13. Qg5 f4 14. Nd5 e5 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Nh4 Nd4 with an approximately balanced game, Khodashenas – Firouzja, 52nd Iranian Chess Championship, Jam 2019. 12. b3 Qa5 13. Bb2 Qc5?! A little better may be 13. ... Qh5 eventually followed by ... f7-f5. 14. Qd2 Ned4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4. After 15. ... Qxd4 16. Qc1 Black’s situation is quite uncomfortable.

16. Nd5! Bxb2. Indeed, Black has little choice but to get crushed at the bottom, because 16. ... Bxf2+ 17. Kh2 would allow White too many threats. 17. Qxb2 a5 18. a3 Be6 19. b4 Qa7 20. b5 Bxd5 21. cxd5 Ne5 22. b6 Qb8 23. Rac1 Rc8. Otherwise the White Rook will penetrate to the seventh rank. 24. Qb5 g5 25. Qb2 Rc5 26. Rxc5 dxc5 27. Qd2. But why not play 27. Qc1 attacking both c5 and g5? 28. ... h6 28. h4! f6 29. hxg5 hxg5

30. d6! A very strong move, preventing Black’s Queen from moving to d6. 30. ... Qxd6?? But Black refuses to believe evidence and ends up blundering away her Queen. 30. ... exd6 was correct, after which there could follow 31. g3! Kg7 32. f4 Nf7 33. e5! with White breaking through on the open files. 31. Qa2+ Kg7 32. Rxd6 exd6 33. Qe6 1 : 0.

Thus, by defeating Assaubayeva 13½ – 9½, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) became one of the four semifinalists of the 2nd Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event. Screenshot from the live stream.

Well, Edna, the best — or the worst — of it is that you are the only one who can break Cruella’s spell, and that you can do only by blowing a kiss to the Frog Prince through the screen

Courtesy of Spockvarietyhour

Ethereality

In an interview with Prasad Ramasubramanian of The Times of India, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) talked about her début in the Champions Chess Tour 2021, about her struggle to maintain a good balance between chess and university, and also about the next World Chess Championship match between Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi. A must read, enjoy.

• Prasad Ramasubramanian, Carlsen – Nepo clash could go down to the wire: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), The Times of India, June 24, 2021

I agree that I haven’t played a lot of major tournaments. In the last few years, I have been busy completing my Masters in public policy. Managing chess with academics has been tough. Once I finished my course at Oxford, I began playing a few tournaments. As a professor at 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University), I devote my full time to that and also train in chess whenever there is spare time. The COVID-19 pandemic means that travelling is difficult and so I will feature in online tournaments only. When the situation becomes better and travel bans are lifted, I hope to play in over-the-board events too. [Read more] 我同意我没有参加过很多主要比赛。 在过去的几年里，我一直忙于完成我的公共政策硕士学位。 与学者一起管理国际象棋很困难。 在牛津完成学业后，我就开始参加一些锦标赛。 作为深圳大学的教授，我把我的全部时间都奉献给了它，并且一有空闲时间就会下棋。 COVID-19 大流行意味着旅行很困难，所以我只会参加在线锦标赛。 当情况好转，旅行禁令解除后，我希望也能参加团体赛。【阅读更多】。

Yes, Edna, it’s wise to keep in mind that Friday comes before Saturday

Courtesy of eBay