13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov gives his own advice on how to successfully write Netflix fiction. So if you are queuing up for an autograph from a real-life Beth Harmon, don’t miss the article by Louisa Thomas, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and the Wait for Chess’s First Woman World Champion, The New Yorker, July 26, 2021 (Published in the print edition of the August 2, 2021 issue with the headline “Queenside”). Photo © 李文嘉（Amiko Lǐ）for The New Yorker. |
Finally, news about my English cousin, Maxime, who has been residing in Australia since many years, and who together with her family has so far eluded the new COVID-19 lockdowns by living aboard a catamaran. Photo courtesy of her herself. |
It was Friday afternoon when four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), newly crowned Queen of the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, took her chair back to her job station just in time to join Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky for the live broadcast from Krasnaya Polyana. Screenshot from the live stream. |
And thus an all-Russian final will conclude the inaugural Women’s World Chess Cup. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova. |
“It wasn’t an easy match but, as in the previous ones, I was lucky to finish it in the classical part, so I don’t need to go to the tie-breaks. Of course, that saves energy”, Kosteniuk finally said. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova. |
Four-time Women’s Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), radiant in her triumph, tops the podium of the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, flanked by 黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn) (silver, left) and 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) (bronze, right). Photos: People’s Daily Online–安徽频道 (Ānhuī Channel). |
Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above) and world No. 3 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) (pictured below) won the women’s and men’s titles, respectively, at the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China which took place in 合肥 (Héféi), 安徽省 (Ānhuī province), China from July 21–29, 2021. Photos: 合肥在线 (hf365.com). |
Today, for the first time since last autumn, I took the chance to enjoy a leisure visit to the People’s House in Grassina and its surroundings. |
No doubt it was a missed opportunity for Muzychuk. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova. |
Karjakin won a brilliant game, culminating in checkmate, eventually pushing the match to a tie-breaker. Photo © Eric Rosen. |
Barely one month after handily winning the 3rd Prague Masters Tournament, Shankland, the only American left in the Chess World Cup, still keeps winning game after game. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova. |
At the conclusion of the second day of the Women’s Superfinal of the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, four-time Women’s Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above with an admirer) is in the lone lead with 5½ out of 6 thanks to her wins against 宁春红 (Níng Chūnhóng) and 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), and a draw with 翟墨 (Zhái Mò). Photo: 留钦岁月 (Liú Qīn Suìyuè). |
Muzychuk eventually won the tie-breaker to get the fourth and final spot in the semifinals. Photo © Eric Rosen. |
“I’m sure that my future life will have a connection with chess, maybe a deep connection”, she said. “This connection is there all the time”. She has been working with a group of psychologists and statisticians on a paper exploring why there are so few women in chess at all levels. The insights she contributes are gleaned from her own career. Whether or not there is an “innate difference” between men and women, she said, what interests her is the way “society shapes you”. [Read more]. |
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has been the highest-rated active female chess player for the past six years. Photo © 李文嘉（Amiko Lǐ）for The New Yorker. |
谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), the only Chinese in the Women’s World Cup, has no intention at all of leaving empty-handed. Photo © Eric Rosen. |
Finally, with not too much of a struggle, Goryachkina went through to the semifinals. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova. |
Four-time Women’s Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above) and three-time Women’s World Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) (pictured below) are tied in the lead with 3 points out of 3 at the end of the first day of the Women’s Superfinal of the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China which is being held at the 天鹅湖大酒店 (Swan Lake Hotel) in 合肥 (Héféi), China. Photos: 合肥日报 (Héféi Daily). |
“Altough and because I took part in many major world sports events in the past, I feel honoured and pleased to be participating, for the first time, in the National Games of the People’s Republic of China”, four-time Women’s Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said in an interview with 苗子健 (Miáo Zǐjiàn) for People’s Daily Online shortly after the victorious conclusion of the Women’s Individual Championship “prelims”. She also said to be reasonably satisfied with her play since her main goal was to reach the final knockout stage. And finally, she praised the organisation for its management of safety and health matters, allowing all participants to enjoy the most from their being together in a common social space. Photo: Chinese Chess Association. |
Clock time did not make a difference, but Kosteniuk’s concentration and determination did. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova. |
