Double Fantasy

It was December 26, 2021 when four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and 16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) publicly expressed their solidarity with the city of 西安 (Xī’ān), 陕西省 (Shǎnxī province), China, which was then under strict lockdown due to the country’s draconian “zero-COVID” policy. “Winter is coming, but spring is not far away. We believe in 西安 (Xī’ān), we support 西安 (Xī’ān), we bless 西安 (Xī’ān): may 长安 (Cháng’ān) be eternal”.