And yet, Edna, where there is a way in, there must be a way out

Artwork © con1011

Will Or Won’t

Taiwanese jazz-R&B-pop artist 9m88’s behind-the-scenes compilation from her video for her hit song 《決定不想你》 (Decided not to yearn for you).

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Am I Armenian, am I Italian?

Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, November 30, 2023

My relation with Armenia — first and foremost with the Armenian language — has something both intimate and legendary. Many years ago, Gianfranco Contini, a philologist for whom I had and have the greatest esteem, told me that the surname of Agamben is certainly Armenian in origin. The Armenian surname of Aganbeghyan would have been shortened to Agamben, just as the Italian surname of Gianni derives from the Armenian Gianighyan. And this was later confirmed to me, not without a hint of contempt, by a monk from the convent on the Island of the Armenians in Venice. In my family traditions, however, there was no trace of such an origin, and the surname — which we are the only ones to have in Italy — was explained in other and more fantastic ways, perhaps invented to hide its exotic origin.
My identity is therefore divided, but this split seems to me to contain something like a precious indication. Am I Armenian, am I Italian? And what does it mean to be an Italian of Armenian origin? The more one adheres to a language and a culture — as I did as best I could to Italian — the more there needs to be a way out. Perhaps, for me, Armenian is this way out. From where and to where? Not from Italian towards another more original identity or, even worse, towards a generic universality. Rather towards that unthought elsewhere which is buried in the centre of every language and every identity and towards which all identities and languages have always set out on a journey. Being Italian, being Armenian is not an origin from which to start; it is a destination which perhaps we shall never be able to reach, but towards which it is worth travelling. And in any case, as the poet wrote for Ulysses e and his native island, it will be the destination that gave you the journey: “Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. / Without her you wouldn’t have set out. / She has nothing left to give you now”.

(English translation by I, Robot)

Charles Blackman, Alice’s journey, 1957. Courtesy of WikiArt.

More or less, Edna, as the case may be, and as “The Song to Hope” says, “The heaven’s hall is op’ned for the living, / Afar remains a chance, no moves the frame”

Artwork © JP/JPG_pincadet (@thepincadet)

In the Talking Hours

As for you, Edna, only naive and incompetent scribes could think that you would prefer a chair like a throne to a chair like in the bakeries of yesteryear

Artwork © Akiada (@akiada82)

Play It Again, Bobby

American actor and director Woody Allen lent his voice as a narrator to the 7-minute shortfilm Mr. Fischer’s Chair, directed by Xosé Zapata and Lorenzo Degl’Innocenti, which will premiere next year. The short is dedicated to Bobby Fischer, the mythical 11th World Chess Champion, as well as to his swivel chair, which attracted the suspicions of the Soviet delegation in the behind-the-scenes diplomacy of the Match of the Century.

Ad maiora

You know, Edna, as the Supreme Poet said, “A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark”

Artwork © Will Tsai (@ilovespaet8)

A Story Behind

Well, Edna, take into account that you are their only source of inspiration and guidance through the wilderness of the dark forest

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

Light My Fire

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) making a plea in her new capacity as 江苏 (Jiāngsū) Firefighting Public Welfare ambassador. Video: 江苏 (Jiāngsū) Fire and Rescue New Media Matrix.

To be sure, Edna, no darkness can hide us poor mortals from your omniscient eye to whom day and night are equal

Artwork © Demo123Man

Material and Immaterial

A Pearl Necklace

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in red dress, with pearl necklace, posing for a picture with chess coach Ravshan Shukurov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday, November 17, 2023, on the eve of the two-day 3rd “Zakovat-Gambit” Blitz Tournament that ended Sunday, November 19. Photo: Ravshan Shukurov.

Yet, Edna, if life is a bowl of tiramisu laden with marscapone, wouldn’t it be a better idea to arrange a meeting at a pâtisserie instead of a library?

Artwork © IC Illustration (@ic_illustration_)

Now And Then

Cinema Paradiso

Nay, Edna, their sophisticated algorithms cannot understand what drives humans to kneel at your feet and beg you for a sign of your chaste favour

Photo © Chun Fai Lee

The Evening Hours

Twice in Time

Yeah, Edna, it’s like saying that one world is not enough for you

Artwork © Julia B. Mello 🌸🌈 Jubs 🌟🎀 (@sailorjubs)

Tomorrow Never Knows

When asked by Jennifer Shahade and Daniel Naroditsky whether she will ever get back again to chess full-time (for money, or for prestige, or for both), 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) replied, quite evasively: “It’s really hard to say, but at the moment I do not have the clear plan that I will come back full-time, but I wouldn’t really say in a certain word for the future”. Screenshot from the live stream.

Minutes Matter

Harika Dronavalli – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Final match game 4; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, November 22, 2023

Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Na3 a6 7. Nc4 Nbd7 8. Be3. Pretty dubious, indeed.
8. ... b5 9. Na5 Qd6. Possibly more intriguing is 9. ... Ng4 10. Bd3 Nxe3 11. fxe3 Bd6 12. Qc2 Qh5 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Rad1 Qh6 15. Qf2 Nf6 16. h3 Ra7 17. e4 Bf4 18. Qe1 cxd4 19. cxd4 Rc7 20. Nb3 Nh5 21. Qh4 g5 22. Qe1 Ng3 23. Rf2 g4 24. Nh2 e5 25. dxe5 gxh3 26. Rf3 Qg5 27. Qf2 Bxe5 28. Nf1 Nxf1 29. Rxf1 Bg4 30. Re3 hxg2 31. Rfe1 f6 32. Qxg2 Rg7 33. Nc5 Bd4 0–1 Tari – Caruana, 11th Norway Blitz, Stavanger 2023 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).
10. a4 Qc7 11. dxc5 Ng4 12. b4 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Bxc5 14. axb5 axb5! Improving on 14. ... Bxe3 15. Nc4⩲ Harika – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event, chess.com, November 22, 2023, Final match game 2 (time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move).
15. Bxb5 Bxe3 16. Qd3 Bb6

17. Rd1? A mistake which loses a Pawn. The comparatively best is 17. Qc4! Qxc4 18. Bxc4 Bb7! 19. Bb5! Bxa5 20. bxa5 Ke7 21. 0-0 Nc5 with more or less equality.
17. ... Bxa5 18. bxa5 Rxa5 19. c4

19. ... 0-0! The pointe: if now 20. Bxd7 then 20. ... Rd8 recovering the piece with at least one Pawn ahead.
20. 0-0 Nc5 21. Qe3 Bb7 22. Rd2 Bxf3 23. Qxf3 h6 24. h3 Qe5 25. Re2 Qd4+ 26. Kh1 Ra1 27. Ree1 Rxe1 28. Rxe1 Rd8 29. Rf1 f5 30. Re1 Ne4 31. Bc6. Perhaps White should have sought to somehow arrange an exchange of Queens, because, as things go now, Black meets no obstacles in consolidating her material advantage.
31. ... Nf2+ 32. Kh2 Qd6+. Or 32. ... Qxc4 32. Qxf2 Qxc6 remaining with two Pawns ahead.
33. Kg1. Again, if 33. Qg3 then 33. ... Qxc6 34. Qxf2 Qxc4 with two Pawns to the good.
33. ... Nd3 34. Rd1

34. ... Qc5+. 34. ... Ne5! at once is decisive.
35. Kh2 Qxc4 36.Bb7 Kh7! 37. Bc6? Ne5! 0–1.

As Chance Would Have It

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 h6 6.c3 d6 7.a4 a6 8.Re1 Ba7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10.h3 Ne7 11.Nf1 c6 12.Ng3 Ng6 13.Bb3 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.d4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Re8 17.Rxe8+ Qxe8 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Be3 Bd7 20.Ndf5 Bxe3 21.Nxe3 Rd8 22.Qd4 Bc6 23.a5 Qe5 24.Rd1 Re8 25.Ngf5 Qxd4 26.Nxd4 Ne5 27.Kf1 g6 28.Ng4 Nxg4 29.hxg4 Kg7 30.f3 Bd7 31.Re1 Rxe1+ 32.Kxe1 Kf6 33.Kd2 Ke5 34.Ke3 h5 35.gxh5 gxh5 36.Ne2 h4 37.Nf4 Be6 38.Nd3+ Kd6 39.Kd4 h3 40.gxh3 Bxh3 41. Nf4 Be6 42.Nd3 Kc6 43.Nc5 Bc8 44.b4 Be6 45.Nd3 Kd6 46.Nf4 Kc6 47.Ke5 Kb5 48.Nxe6 fxe6 49.Kxe6 Kc4 50.f4 Kxc3 51.Kxd5 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "125"]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Na3 a6 7.Nc4 Nbd7 8.Be3 b5 9.Na5 Qd6 10.a4 Qc7 11.dxc5 Ng4 12.b4 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Bxc5 14.axb5 Bxe3 15. Nc4 Bb6 16.Qd6 Bb7 17.Rd1 axb5 18.Nxb6 Qxc3+ 19.Nd2 Qe3+ 20.Be2 Qxb6 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22.Bxb5+ Ke7 23.O-O Rhd8 24.Nc4 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Nxc4 26.Rd7+ Kf6 27.Bxc4 Bc6 28.Rc7 Be4 29.b5 Rd8 30.Kf2 Rd6 31.g3 g5 32.Ke3 Bg6 33.Rc5 Ke7 34.Rc7+ Rd7 35.Rc8 f5 36.b6 Kd6 37.Bb5 Rb7 38.Rc6+ Kd5 39.Ba4 Be8 40.Rc7 Rxb6 41.Bxe8 Rb3+ 42.Kd2 Rb2+ 43.Rc2 Rxc2+ 44.Kxc2 f4 45.Kd2 fxg3 46.hxg3 Ke4 47.Ke2 Kf5 48.Bh5 e5 49.Kf3 e4+ 50.Ke3 g4 51.Be8 Kg5 52.Kxe4 h5 53. Bxh5 Kxh5 54.Kf5 Kh6 55.Kf4 Kg7 56.Kg5 Kf7 57.Kf5 Kg7 58.Kxg4 Kg6 59.Kf4 Kf6 60.g4 Kg6 61.g5 Kg7 62.Kf5 Kf7 63.g6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C11"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6 9.a3 Bc5 10.Ncb5 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 O-O 12.b4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 f6 14.Qxb6 Nxb6 15.Bd3 a5 16.Kd2 Bd7 17.Ke3 Bxb5 18.Bxb5 fxe5 19.fxe5 Rf5 20.Bd3 Rxe5+ 21. Kd4 Rg5 22.Rae1 Kf7 23.Rhf1+ Ke7 24.Bf5 Nc4 25.Bxe6 Kd6 26.h4 Rxg2 27.Bxd5 Rd2+ 28.Kxc4 b5+ 29.Kxb5 Rxd5+ 30.Kc4 a4 31.Kc3 Rc8+ 32.Kb2 Rd2 33.Rc1 Rc4 34.Rf7 Rxh4 35.Rxg7 Kc6 36.Ra7 h5 37.Rxa4 Rhh2 38.Ra6+ Kb5 39.Ra5+ Kb6 40. Rc5 h4 41.Re1 Rhe2 42.Rxe2 Rxe2 43.Rh5 Re4 44.Kb3 Re3+ 45.c3 h3 46.a4 Kb7 47.a5 Rg3 48.b5 Kc7 49.Kb4 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "74"]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Na3 a6 7.Nc4 Nbd7 8.Be3 b5 9.Na5 Qd6 10.a4 Qc7 11.dxc5 Ng4 12.b4 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Bxc5 14.axb5 axb5 15. Bxb5 Bxe3 16.Qd3 Bb6 17.Rd1 Bxa5 18.bxa5 Rxa5 19.c4 O-O 20.O-O Nc5 21.Qe3 Bb7 22.Rd2 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 h6 24.h3 Qe5 25.Re2 Qd4+ 26.Kh1 Ra1 27.Ree1 Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Rd8 29.Rf1 f5 30.Re1 Ne4 31.Bc6 Nf2+ 32.Kh2 Qd6+ 33.Kg1 Nd3 34.Rd1 Qc5+ 35.Kh2 Qxc4 36.Bb7 Kh7 37.Bc6 Ne5 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C55"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "138"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.O-O d6 6.a4 g5 7.a5 a6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9. Ne2 Bg4 10.c3 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Qd7 12.Ng3 Ne7 13.Qb3 O-O 14.d4 Qh3 15.dxe5 Ng6 16.Nf5 Nxe5 17.Be2 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Qxf3 19.Ng3 Rab8 20.Qd1 Qxd1 21.Rxd1 Rfe8 22.Ra4 Ng4 23.Rc4 Rbc8 24.Rb4 Rb8 25.Rc4 Re7 26.Nf5 Rd7 27.Nxg7 Kxg7 28.f4 gxf4 29.Bxf4 Re8 30.Rb4 c5 31.Rc4 Nf6 32.Rxd6 Rxd6 33.Bxd6 Rxe4 34.Rxc5 Re2 35.Be5 Rxb2 36.Rd5 Rb1+ 37.Kg2 Re1 38.Bd4 Kg6 39.Bxf6 Kxf6 40.Rd6+ Re6 41.Rd7 Re7 42.Rd6+ Kg7 43.Rb6 Rc7 44.Rb3 Kg6 45.Rb6+ f6 46.Rb3 Kg5 47.Kf3 h5 48.Kg3 h4+ 49.Kf3 f5 50.Kf2 Kg4 51.Rb4+ f4 52.h3+ Kxh3 53.Rxf4 Rxc3 54. Rb4 Rc7 55.Rb3+ Kg4 56.Rb4+ Kg5 57.Rb3 Rf7+ 58.Kg2 Rf5 59.Rb4 Rb5 60.Ra4 Rb2+ 61.Kf3 Rb3+ 62.Kg2 h3+ 63.Kh2 Kf5 64.Rc4 Ke5 65.Rc7 Kd6 66.Rc8 Kd7 67.Rc5 Rb5 68.Rc4 Rxa5 69.Kxh3 Kd6 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A08"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c5 4.O-O h6 5.c4 d4 6.b4 Nc6 7.b5 Nb8 8.d3 Nbd7 9. e3 e5 10.exd4 exd4 11.Re1+ Be7 12.Qe2 Nf8 13.Ne5 Ne6 14.f4 O-O 15.f5 Ng5 16.h4 Ngh7 17.g4 Bd6 18.g5 Re8 19.Bf4 hxg5 20.hxg5 Nxg5 21.Nd2 Bxe5 22. Bxe5 Bxf5 23.Bxf6 Rxe2 24.Bxd8 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Rxd8 26.Bxb7 Bxd3 27.a4 Rd7 28.Bc6 Rd6 29.a5 Ne6 30.Kf2 Kf8 31.a6 Nc7 32.Ra1 g5 33.Be4 Rf6+ 34.Kg3 Be2 35.Bf3 Bd3 36.Be4 Be2 37.Bb7 Nxb5 38.cxb5 Bxb5 39.Ne4 Re6 40.Nxc5 Re3+ 41. Kf2 Rc3 42.Ne4 Rc2+ 43.Kg3 d3 44.Rd1 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C11"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bxf6 Qxf6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.e5 Qd8 8.Qd2 c5 9.a3 Qa5 10.h4 Nc6 11.Rh3 Bd7 12.Rb1 Bxc3 13.bxc3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 b6 16.Rg3 g6 17.c3 Na5 18.Bd3 Rc8 19.h5 g5 20.Nh2 Ke7 21.Ng4 Ba4 22. Rf3 Nb3+ 23.Rxb3 Bxb3 24.Rf6 Bc4 25.Bc2 Bf1 26.g3 Rcf8 27.Nxh6 Bh3 28.Bd3 a5 29.Ke3 Bg2 30.f3 Bh3 31.g4 Rc8 32.Rxf7+ Ke8 33.Bb5+ Kd8 34.Rd7+ Ke8 35. Rh7+ 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A07"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 O-O 6.Bf4 c5 7.a4 Nc6 8.e4 b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.d4 Bf6 13.Be3 Rc8 14.c3 Na5 15.Nd2 cxd4 16.cxd4 Nc6 17.Nb3 Ba6 18.Re1 Nb4 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.a5 h6 21.axb6 axb6 22.Bf3 Rxc1 23.Nxc1 Qc6 24.Be2 Bb7 25.Rf1 Nc2 26.Nd3 Nxe3 27.fxe3 Bg5 28. Nf4 Re8 29.Qd2 Qd6 30.Bf3 Qe7 31.Kf2 Qd6 32.Rc1 Bd8 33.Qc3 g6 34.Qb3 Bg5 35.Re1 Bxf4 36.exf4 Rxe1 37.Kxe1 Qe6+ 38.Kf2 Kg7 39.Qb5 g5 40.Qe2 gxf4 41. gxf4 Qxe2+ 42.Kxe2 Kf6 43.Ke3 Kf5 44.h3 f6 45.Bg4+ Kg6 46.Be6 f5 47.Kd2 Kf6 48.Bg8 Bc6 49.Kc3 Kg7 50.Be6 Kf6 51.Bc8 Kg6 52.Kb4 Kf6 53.Kc3 Kg6 54. Kb4 Kf6 55.Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C11"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.c3 f5 5.d3 f4 6.d4 Qe7 7.b4 g5 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10.Qh5+ Kd8 11.Na3 c6 12.Bb3 Nf6 13.Qxg5 Nxe4 14.Qh5 Nf6 15.Qe2 Bg4 16.f3 Bf5 17.Nc4 Nd7 18.O-O Kc7 19.Rd1 Re8 20.Nd6 Bg6 21.Nxe8+ Qxe8 22.Bd2 Bh6 23.Re1 Rf8 24.Qf2 e4 25.fxe4 Ne5 26.Qxa7 Bf7 27.Bxf7 Rxf7 28. Rad1 Rg7 29.Qa5+ Kb8 30.Bxf4 Bxf4 31.Rd8+ Qxd8 32.Qxd8+ Ka7 33.Qa5+ Kb8 34.Rd1 Nf3+ 35.Kf2 Bc7 36.Rd8+ 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Bg4 7.c3 e6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Nxf3 Bd6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Bxg3 13.fxg3 Qc7 14.g4 Qg3+ 15. Kd2 Ne4+ 16.Kc2 Nf2 17.Qd2 Nxh1 18.Bb5 Nf2 19.Ne5 Ne4 20.Qe2 O-O 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rf1 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "11"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.c3 d6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Re1 h6 9.Nbd2 O-O 10.h3 Be6 11.Nf1 Re8 12.Ng3 Qd7 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.d4 Qf7 15.Be3 exd4 16.cxd4 d5 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxa7 Rxa7 21.Rxe4 Raa8 22.Rd4 Qf5 23.Qe2 Rad8 24.Rad1 Rxd4 25.Rxd4 Rf8 26.a4 a5 27.h4 b6 28. g3 Kh7 29.Kg2 Kg8 30.Rf4 Qg6 31.Rd4 h5 32.Qc4 Qf5 33.Qe2 Rf7 34.Rf4 Qg6 35.Rxf7 Qxf7 36.Qe4 Qe8 37.b3 g6 38.f3 Kg7 39.Qf4 Qf7 40.Qd4 Qe7 41.Kh3 Qf7 42.Kg2 Qe7 43.Kh3 Qf7 44.Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "86"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.g3 Bf5 4.Bg2 h6 5.c4 c6 6.Qb3 Qb6 7.Nc3 e6 8.c5 Qxb3 9.axb3 Nbd7 10.b4 a6 11.b5 cxb5 12.Nxb5 Rc8 13.Nc3 Ne4 14.O-O g5 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Bxd2 Bg7 17.e3 b6 18.b4 Bd3 19.Rfc1 a5 20.Na4 axb4 21.Nxb6 Nxb6 22.cxb6 Rxc1+ 23.Bxc1 Kd7 24.Bf1 Bxf1 25.Kxf1 Kc6 26.Ra7 Kxb6 27.Rxf7 Rc8 28.Bb2 Rc7 29.Rxc7 Kxc7 30.Ke2 Kc6 31.Kd3 Kb5 32.f3 Ka4 33.e4 Kb3 34.Bc1 Ka2 35.h4 b3 36.Kc3 Bf8 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.exd5 exd5 39.f4 gxf4 40.gxf4 Ba3 41.Bxa3 Kxa3 42.f5 b2 43.f6 b1=Q 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "13"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C09"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5 Qe7+ 7.Qe2 Qxe2+ 8. Kxe2 a6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nb3 Bd6 12.Be3 a5 13.Bc5 Kd7 14.a4 f6 15.Nfd4 Ne7 16.Kd2 Re8 17.g3 Kc7 18.Rae1 Bd7 19.h4 Ng6 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Bxd6+ Kxd6 22.Nxa5 Ne5 23.Nb7+ Kc7 24.Nc5 Bg4 25.Kc3 Nd7 26.Nxd7 Bxd7 27. b4 Kd6 28.Rb1 Rc8 29.Nb3 Re8 30.Kd2 Bf5 31.a5 Kc7 32.Nd4 Bd7 33.Re1 Rb8 34.Kc3 Kd6 35.Nb3 Rf8 36.Nc5 Ra8 37.Kd4 Rb8 38.c3 g6 39.f4 h5 40.Nd3 Bf5 41.Nc5 Bg4 42.a6 Ra8 43.Nb7+ Kd7 44.Nc5+ Kd6 45.Ra1 Kc7 46.c4 dxc4 47.Kxc4 Be2+ 48.Kc3 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A33"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "127"]

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g3 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O b6 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.Nb5 d5 12.Nc7 Bxc4 13.Nxa8 Qxa8 14.Re1 Rd8 15. Nd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bc5 17.Qxc4 dxc4 18.Bxa8 Rxa8 19.Kg2 Kf8 20.Red1 Ke7 21. Rac1 b5 22.Bg5 Rc8 23.b3 Ba3 24.Rc2 c3 25.e4 h6 26.Bxf6+ gxf6 27.Rd3 Bb2 28.f4 a5 29.Kf3 b4 30.Ke2 Ra8 31.Rd4 Ba3 32.Kd3 a4 33.bxa4 e5 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.Rd5 Rxa4 36.Rxe5+ Kd6 37.Rd5+ Ke6 38.Rh5 Bb2 39.Rxh6+ f6 40.Kc4 Rxa2 41.Kxb4 Ra1 42.Kc4 Re1 43.Kd3 Rd1+ 44.Ke2 Rd4 45.Rh4 Ke5 46.Rf4 Rd8 47.h4 Rg8 48.Kf3 Ke6 49.Rf5 Rd8 50.Rd5 Ra8 51.Rc5 Ra1 52.h5 Rf1+ 53.Kg4 Re1 54. Rc4 Rh1 55.Rf2 Ke5 56.Rf5+ Ke6 57.Rc6+ Ke7 58.Rc7+ Ke6 59.Rfc5 Rh2 60. R7c6+ Ke7 61.e5 fxe5 62.Rxe5+ Kf7 63.Rec5 Rh1 64.Rb5 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "15"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C55"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "74"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.O-O d6 6.Re1 g5 7.c3 Bg7 8.a4 a5 9. Qb3 Qe7 10.Na3 O-O 11.Nc2 Nh5 12.Ne3 g4 13.Nd2 Nf4 14.Ndf1 Qg5 15.Ng3 Ne7 16.d4 h5 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Qc2 h4 19.Ngf5 Nxf5 20.Nxf5 Bxf5 21.exf5 g3 22. fxg3 hxg3 23.hxg3 Qxg3 24.Bxf4 exf4 25.Re7 Bf6 26.Rxc7 f3 27.Rxb7 Be5 28. Qf2 Qh2+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+ 30.Qg1 fxg2+ 31.Kf2 Qh4+ 32.Kxg2 Kh8 33.Qh1 Rg8+ 34. Kf3 Rg3+ 35.Ke2 Rh3 36.Qd5 Rh2+ 37.Kd3 Qh3+ 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A14"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O Be7 6.b3 O-O 7.Bb2 d5 8.e3 c5 9. Nc3 dxc4 10.bxc4 Nc6 11.Qe2 Qd7 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.d3 a6 14.Ne1 Na5 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Rab1 b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Qxb5 19.Bxf6 Qd7 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Nf3 Nc6 22.Rb2 h6 23.Rbd2 Ra3 24.d4 cxd4 25.Nxd4 Nxd4 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Rxd4 Qa7 28.Rd8+ Kh7 29.Qc2+ f5 30.Qc8 Ra6 31.h4 Kg6 32.Rd7 Qa8 33.Qc7 Qf8 34.Qc4 Rb6 35.Qd4 Rb1+ 36.Kh2 Qf6 37.Qxf6+ Kxf6 38.a4 Ra1 39.Ra7 g5 40.hxg5+ hxg5 41.Kg2 g4 42.a5 Ke5 43.Ra8 Ke4 44.a6 Ra2 45.a7 e5 46.Rb8 Rxa7 47.Rb4+ Kd3 48.Rb3+ Ke4 49.Rb4+ Kd5 50.Rb5+ Ke4 51.Rb4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "17"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C55"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.O-O d6 6.c3 g5 7.a4 Bg7 8.a5 Ne7 9. d4 exd4 10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxe5 O-O 12.cxd4 Nfd5 13.Nc3 Be6 14.Qb3 c6 15.Re1 Rb8 16.Bd2 b5 17.axb6 axb6 18.Ra7 Rc8 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qf3 b5 21.Bd3 Qb6 22.Raa1 Qxd4 23.Bc3 Qf4 24.Qxf4 Nxf4 25.Be4 b4 26.Bxb4 Bxe5 27.Bxf8 Kxf8 28.g3 Bxb2 29.Rab1 Bc3 30.Re3 Bd4 31.gxf4 Bxe3 32.fxe3 gxf4 33.exf4 c5 34. Kf2 f5 35.Bc2 Rd8 36.Ke3 Ke7 37.Rb7+ Rd7 38.Rb8 c4 39.Rh8 Rd6 40.Rxh6 Rb6 41.Rh7+ Kf6 42.Rh6+ Ke7 43.Rh7+ Kf6 44.Rh6+ Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A13"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "154"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O g6 6.b3 Bg7 7.Bb2 O-O 8.d3 c5 9.e4 d6 10.Nc3 Nc6 11.h3 a6 12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Rfe1 Nd7 14.Ne2 b5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d4 cxd4 18.Nexd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Qb6 20.Nc2 Nf6 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.Nxd4 b4 23.Rac1 Rfc8 24.Rxc8 Bxc8 25.Rc1 Bb7 26.Rc7 Bxe4 27.Nxe6+ Kg8 28.Ng5 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 Nd5 30.Ra7 Rf8 31.Ne4 Rd8 32.Ra6 Nc3 33.Nxc3 bxc3 34.Rc6 Ra8 35.a4 Kf8 36.Rxc3 Ke7 37.Kf3 Ke6 38.Ke4 d5+ 39.Kd4 Rb8 40.Rc6+ Kd7 41.Rf6 Rxb3 42.Rxf7+ Ke6 43.Ra7 h5 44.h4 Rb4+ 45.Ke3 Rb3+ 46.Kf4 Rb4+ 47.Ke3 Rb3+ 48.Ke2 Rb2+ 49.Ke1 Ra2 50.a5 Kf5 51.a6 d4 52.Ra8 Kf6 53.a7 Kg7 54.f3 d3 55.Kd1 Kh7 56.g4 hxg4 57.fxg4 Kg7 58.h5 gxh5 59.gxh5 Kh7 60.h6 d2 61.Ke2 d1=Q+ 62.Kxd1 Ra1+ 63.Kc2 Ra2+ 64.Kb3 Ra1 65.Kb4 Ra2 66.Kc5 Ra1 67.Kb6 Rb1+ 68.Kc6 Rc1+ 69.Kd6 Rd1+ 70.Ke6 Re1+ 71.Kf6 Rf1+ 72.Ke5 Re1+ 73.Kd6 Rd1+ 74.Kc6 Rc1+ 75.Kb6 Rb1+ 76.Ka6 Ra1+ 77.Kb6 Rb1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "19"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "C45"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Nd2 d5 7.exd5 cxd5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.O-O Be7 11.b3 O-O 12.Bb2 Qf5 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Qf3 Qxc2 15.Bxf6 Qxd2 16.Rad1 Qh6 17.Be5 Bxe5 18.Rxe5 c6 19.Rde1 Qd6 20.g3 d4 21.Qd3 Rad8 22.R5e4 g6 23.h4 h5 24.Re5 c5 25.Re6 Qd7 26.Re7 Qd5 27.R1e5 Qd6 28.R5e6 Qxe6 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Qxg6+ Kh8 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Qh6+ Kg8 34.Qxe6+ Kg7 35.Qe5+ Kg8 36.Qg5+ Kh8 37.Qxh5+ Kg8 38.Qxc5 d3 39.Qg5+ Kh8 40.Qh6+ Kg8 41.Qg6+ Kh8 42.Qh6+ Kg8 43.Qg6+ Kh8 44.Qh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "55"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.b3 Ne4 7.d4 c5 8.Bb2 O-O 9.e3 d5 10.cxd5 Bxd5 11.Qe2 Nc6 12.Rd1 e6 13.dxc5 Bxb2 14.Qxb2 bxc5 15. Nfd2 Nxd2 16.Rxd2 f5 17.Nc3 Ne7 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bxd5+ Nxd5 21. Rxd5 Rad8 22.Qd2 Rxd5 23.Qxd5+ Rf7 24.Rc1 Qa5 25.Rxc5 Qxa2 26.Rc7 Qa1+ 27. Kg2 Qf6 28.Rxa7 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "21"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "31"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Bf4 Nd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Nf3 e6 10.Bd3 c5 11.c4 Qh5 12.d5 exd5 13.Qe2+ Kd8 14.O-O Be7 15.Rfe1 Re8 16.Bd6 1-0

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.b3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e5 5.O-O d6 6.Bb2 Be7 7.d3 O-O 8.e4 a5 9. c4 a4 10.b4 c5 11.b5 Nbd7 12.a3 Nh5 13.Nc3 g6 14.Nxa4 Ng7 15.Nc3 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.cxd5 Nf6 19.Nd2 Qd7 20.a4 f4 21.Nc4 Rab8 22.Ra2 Qf5 23.Bc3 Nd7 24.Be4 Qf7 25.Nd2 Nf6 26.Qb3 Qh5 27.Bg2 Ng4 28.h3 Nf6 29. Ne4 Nxe4 30.Bxe4 Qxh3 31.Bg2 Qh5 32.g4 Qxg4 33.f3 Qg6 34.Be1 Nf5 35.Qd1 Kh8 36.Qe2 Rg8 37.Rf2 Ng3 38.Qb2 Qh5 39.Bc3 Bf6 40.Ra1 Nf5 41.Re1 Ne3 42. Ree2 Rg6 43.a5 bxa5 44.b6 Rbg8 45.b7 Rh6 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "23"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "148"]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 a6 5.h3 b5 6.Be3 Bb7 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.a3 Nbd7 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 c5 11.e5 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 dxe5 13.dxc5 e4 14.Nxe4 Ne5 15.Qe2 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Nd5 17.Rac1 Rc8 18.d4 h6 19.Nc3 f5 20.Qf3 Nxc3 21.bxc3 g5 22. Bd2 Kh8 23.Re6 Qd7 24.Rce1 Bf6 25.Qxf5 Kg7 26.Qe4 Rf7 27.Rxa6 Rcf8 28.Re6 Qa7 29.Bc1 Qa5 30.Qc2 Qa8 31.R1e2 Qa5 32.Qd3 Qa4 33.c6 Qa7 34.Qxb5 Rb8 35. Qd3 Qc7 36.g3 Rb3 37.Kg2 Qa5 38.Bd2 Qxa3 39.c7 Qa8+ 40.Qe4 Qc8 41.Rc6 Rb7 42.Qe6 Rf8 43.Qxc8 Rxc8 44.h4 gxh4 45.gxh4 Rbxc7 46.Rxc7 Rxc7 47.h5 Kf7 48.Kf3 Ra7 49.Ke4 Ra5 50.d5 Ra4+ 51.Kd3 Rh4 52.f4 Rxh5 53.c4 Rh3+ 54.Ke4 h5 55.c5 h4 56.c6 Ra3 57.Be3 Ra8 58.Kf5 h3 59.Rh2 Rd8 60.Ke4 Rh8 61.c7 Ke8 62.Bd4 Kd7 63.Bxf6 exf6 64.Kf5 Kxc7 65.Kxf6 Kd6 66.Kg7 Rh5 67.Kg6 Rh8 68. f5 Kxd5 69.f6 Ke6 70.Kg7 Rh4 71.f7 Rg4+ 72.Kh6 Kxf7 73.Rxh3 Rg6+ 74.Kh5 Rf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A15"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "114"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e5 5.O-O d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d3 Bg7 8.e4 O-O 9. h3 Nbd7 10.Be3 Nc5 11.Qd2 Ne6 12.Rad1 c5 13.Bh6 Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Ne2 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Nc3 Kh8 18.Rde1 Rb8 19.a3 f4 20.g4 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Ng5 22.Kg2 Nxf3 23.Kxf3 Qh4 24.Rh1 Nf6 25.Qe2 Rg8 26.Reg1 Rbd8 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.cxd5 Qe7 29.Qe4 b5 30.h4 Qb7 31.g5 c4 32.h5 cxd3 33.g6 Rc8 34.gxh7 Qxh7 35. Qxh7+ Kxh7 36.Rxg8 Rxg8 37.Rd1 Rg5 38.Rxd3 Rxh5 39.Ke4 Rh2 40.Rb3 Rxf2 41. Rxb5 Re2+ 42.Kf3 Re3+ 43.Kf2 Kg6 44.Rb7 Kf5 45.Rxa7 Rd3 46.Ra6 Rxd5 47.b4 Kg4 48.a4 e4 49.b5 Rd2+ 50.Ke1 e3 51.Ra8 f3 52.Rg8+ Kf4 53.Rf8+ Ke4 54. Re8+ Kd3 55.Rf8 f2+ 56.Kf1 Rd1+ 57.Kg2 Rg1+ 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "25"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.f4 b5 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.a4 b4 9. Ne2 c5 10.Ng3 Qc7 11.O-O Ngf6 12.c3 Ng4 13.Bd2 h5 14.h3 h4 15.Ne2 Ngf6 16. e5 Ne4 17.Qc2 Nxd2 18.Qxd2 cxd4 19.cxd4 dxe5 20.fxe5 Bxf3 21.Rxf3 Qb6 22. Kh1 O-O 23.Raf1 a5 24.Qg5 Rad8 25.Bc4 e6 26.Rxf7 Rxf7 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 28. Bxe6+ Qxe6 29.Qxd8 Qf5 30.Qxh4 Nf8 31.Ng3 Qb1+ 32.Kh2 Qxb2 33.Ne4 Kg8 34. Ng5 Qc3 35.e6 Qc7+ 36.Kh1 Qe7 37.Qf4 b3 38.Ne4 b2 39.Nd2 Qxe6 40.Kh2 Qe1 0-1

[Event "5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli IND"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "E66"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "127"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O O-O 5.d4 d6 6.c4 Nc6 7.d5 Na5 8.Nfd2 c5 9.Nc3 a6 10.e4 Rb8 11.Rb1 b5 12.cxb5 axb5 13.b4 cxb4 14.Rxb4 Bd7 15.Bb2 Ng4 16.Ne2 Ne5 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.f4 Bg7 19.Kh1 Qc7 20.a3 Rfc8 21.Nf3 Nc4 22. Rb3 Qa7 23.Ned4 b4 24.axb4 Ba4 25.Qa1 Nd2 26.Nxd2 Bxd4 27.Qa2 Bxb3 28.Qxb3 Rc3 29.Qb1 Ra3 30.Nf3 Ra1 31.Qd3 Rxf1+ 32.Bxf1 Rxb4 33.Kg2 Rb2+ 34.Be2 Bc5 35.e5 Qa2 36.Kf1 Qb1+ 37.Qxb1 Rxb1+ 38.Kg2 Rb2 39.Kf1 dxe5 40.Nxe5 Rd2 41. Bc4 Rxh2 42.d6 exd6 43.Nxf7 Kg7 44.Ng5 Rf2+ 45.Ke1 Rg2 46.Ne4 Rc2 47.Bd5 Bb4+ 48.Kd1 Rh2 49.Kc1 h6 50.Kd1 g5 51.fxg5 hxg5 52.Kc1 Kg6 53.g4 Rh4 54. Be6 Rh2 55.Bf5+ Kh6 56.Be6 Re2 57.Bd5 Rg2 58.Be6 Rh2 59.Kb1 Bc5 60.Bd5 Re2 61.Kc1 Rh2 62.Kb1 Rh4 63.Be6 Be3 64.Kc2 1-0

And thus 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) triumphed for the second time in the Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship, after her first title in 2021. For those who believe in superstition it is of interest to note that both times she defeated Harika in the Final. Screenshot from the live stream.

And yet, Edna, even without music, her voice is a song worth dancing to

Artwork © Phoenix Nation

Ring a Ring o’ Roses

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) performing a simultaneous exhibition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Saturday, November 18, 2023. Photos: Podrobno News Agency and “Zakovat” intellektual klubi.

Behind Her Times

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Madaminov, Mukhiddin UZB"]
[ECO "C48"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "138"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Bc4 Bc5 6.d3 d6 7.h3 c6 8.a3 h6 9. Ba2 O-O 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.Ne2 Bb6 12.Ng3 d5 13.Qf3 Be6 14.O-O Re8 15.Nf5 dxe4 16.dxe4 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Qe7 18.c3 Rad8 19.a4 a5 20.Qf3 Qd6 21.Bc4 Rf8 22.g3 Nd7 23.Kg2 Nf6 24.b3 Bc5 25.Ra2 Qe7 26.Rd2 Rxd2 27.Bxd2 Rd8 28.Bc1 Ba3 29.Be3 Bc5 30.Qe2 Bxe3 31.Qxe3 Qc7 32.Be2 Rd7 33.Rb1 Qd8 34.Rb2 h5 35. h4 g6 36.Bc4 Kg7 37.Qc5 Ng4 38.Be2 Qf6 39.Bxg4 hxg4 40.Qe3 b5 41.Qe2 Qf3+ 42.Qxf3 gxf3+ 43.Kxf3 Rd3+ 44.Ke2 Rxc3 45.axb5 cxb5 46.Ra2 Rxb3 47.Rxa5 f5 48.Ra7+ Kf6 49.Ra6+ Kf7 50.exf5 gxf5 51.Rb6 b4 52.Kf1 Rb1+ 53.Kg2 b3 54.h5 Kg7 55.Rb5 b2 56.Rb6 Kh7 57.h6 f4 58.gxf4 exf4 59.Kf3 Rh1 60.Rxb2 Kxh6 61. Kxf4 Kg6 62.Rb6+ Kf7 63.Kg5 Rc1 64.f4 Rc7 65.Rh6 Kg7 66.f5 Ra7 67.f6+ Kg8 68.Rh1 Ra2 69.Rg1 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Saydaliev, Saidakbar UZB"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B42"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 b6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bb7 7.Be3 d6 8.Bd3 Nf6 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Rc1 Nc5 11.f3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Be7 13.Rfd1 O-O 14.b4 Qc7 15.Nb3 Nd7 16.Na4 Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.b5 Bb7 19.Na4 Rfd8 20.Bf4 Nc5 21.Naxc5 bxc5 22.a4 Qb6 23.Qe2 h6 24.Rd3 Rd7 25.Rcd1 d5 26.Be3 d4 27.Bd2 e5 28.Rf1 Bd6 29.Qe1 Bc7 30.h4 Re7 31.h5 f5 32.exf5 e4 33.f6 Qxf6 34.fxe4 Qb6 35.Bf4 Rxe4 36.Qd2 Bxf4 37.Rxf4 Rae8 38.Rg3 Qd6 39.Rxe4 Bxe4 40.Rg4 Bf5 41.Rf4 Re3 42.Nxa5 Qxf4 0-1

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir Borisovich FID"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "120"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 g6 7.g4 Bg7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nh5 13.Bxg7 Nxg7 14.e5 Ra7 15.exd6 Rd7 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.O-O-O Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Rxd6 19.Qe3 Qc7 20.Rxd6 Qxd6 21.Rd1 Qe6 22.Bd5 Qxe3+ 23.fxe3 Nf5 24.Rd3 Rb8 25.b4 Kg7 26.Kb2 Nd6 27.e4 f6 28. h4 h6 29.gxh6+ Kxh6 30.e5 fxe5 31.Re3 e4 32.Kb3 g5 33.Bxe4 gxh4 34.Bd3 Rb7 35.a4 Kg5 36.axb5 axb5 37.Re6 h3 38.Rg6+ Kf4 39.Rh6 Kg3 40.Rg6+ Kf4 41.Rh6 Rb6 42.Rxh3 e5 43.Rh4+ Kg5 44.Rh8 e4 45.Be2 Nf5 46.c3 Kf4 47.Rf8 Ke3 48. Rxf5 Kxe2 49.c4 e3 50.cxb5 Kd3 51.Rd5+ Ke4 52.Rd8 Rxb5 53.Re8+ Kf3 54.Kc4 Rb7 55.b5 e2 56.Kc5 Rc7+ 57.Kd6 Rc1 58.Rxe2 Kxe2 59.b6 Rb1 60.Kc7 Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11-18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Yakubboev, Nodirbek UZB"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B52"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3 O-O 10.Be3 Nc6 11.O-O Nxd4 12.Bxd4 a6 13.a4 Rac8 14.b3 e6 15.Qd3 Qc6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Ne2 Nd7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qxd6 Qxd6 20.Rxd6 Nc5 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.b4 Rd2 23.Kf2 Nb3 24.Rb1 Nd4 25.Ke3 Rxe2+ 26.Kxd4 Rxg2 27. b5 Rxh2 28.c5 axb5 29.axb5 Rd2+ 30.Ke5 Kf8 31.c6 bxc6 32.b6 1-0

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Sindarov, Javokhir UZB"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.a3 Be7 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O d6 9.Be3 a6 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.fxe5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16.Bd3 Be6 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qe2 Rad8 19.Bd4 Bc5 20.c3 Qb6 21.Rf4 Bxd4 22.cxd4 Rc8 23.Qe3 Qd8 24.Raf1 Qg5 25.Qf2 Rc7 26.h3 Rfc8 27.Kh2 Rc1 28.Rxc1 Rxc1 29.Rf3 Rd1 30.Qe2 Rd2 31.Qf1 Rxb2 32.a4 bxa4 33.Bxa6 Qd2 34. Rf4 a3 35.Kg3 a2 0-1

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Vokhidov, Shamsiddin UZB"]
[ECO "B49"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "130"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Be3 a6 8.O-O b5 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.f4 e5 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.Bf4 Qe6 13.e5 Nd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Qxd5 cxd5 16.Be3 Be6 17.a4 b4 18.a5 Be7 19.c3 O-O 20.cxb4 Bxb4 21.Rfc1 Rfc8 22.Rxc8+ Bxc8 23.Bb6 Bd7 24.Rc1 Kf8 25.Rc7 Ke8 26.Kf2 Be7 27.Rc2 Bd8 28.Bxd8 Kxd8 29.Ke3 Rb8 30.Kd4 Bb5 31.Bf3 Bc4 32.Bxd5 Bxd5 33.Kxd5 Rb5+ 34.Kd6 Rxa5 35.e6 fxe6 36.Kxe6 Rb5 37.Kf7 g5 38.Kf6 h5 39.Kg6 h4 40.Kh5 Ke7 41.Kg4 a5 42.Rf2 Ke6 43.Re2+ Kf6 44.Rf2+ Kg6 45.Rc2 Rb4+ 46.Kf3 g4+ 47.Ke3 a4 48.Rc6+ Kf5 49.Rc5+ Kf6 50.Rc6+ Ke5 51.Rc5+ Kd6 52.Rc2 Kd5 53.g3 h3 54.Rd2+ Ke5 55.Rc2 Rb3+ 56.Kf2 Kd4 57.Rd2+ Kc4 58.Rc2+ Kb4 59.Re2 Rf3+ 60.Ke1 Kb3 61.Re4 Rxg3 62.hxg3 h2 63.Re3+ Ka2 64.Ra3+ Kxb2 65.Rxa4 h1=Q+ 0-1

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nigmatov, Ortik UZB"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "A34"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 b6 6.Nc3 Bb7 7.Be3 d6 8.f3 Nf6 9.Be2 Be7 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.g4 Ne5 12.g5 Nfd7 13.h4 Rc8 14.b3 Nc6 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Qd2 Ne5 17.f4 Nd7 18.Rg1 Nc5 19.Bf3 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.b4 Nd7 22. Qd3 O-O 23.h5 d5 24.exd5 Bxd5 25.Nxd5 Rxc1+ 26.Bxc1 exd5 27.Bd2 Qb6 28.Kf1 g6 29.hxg6 hxg6 30.Bxd5 Rd8 31.Qb3 Qd4 32.Bxf7+ Kf8 33.Bxg6 Qc4+ 34.Qxc4 1-0

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Madaminov, Mukhiddin UZB"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D01"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "147"]

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 c5 5.dxc5 Qa5 6.Qd2 e6 7.Nf3 Bxc5 8.Nd4 Bb4 9.a3 Ne4 10.Nb3 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.c4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 e5 15.Bd5 exf4 16.Bxe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 Bd7 18.O-O Rc8 19.Nc5 Rc7 20.Rab1 Bc8 21. Nxb7 Ke7 22.Nc5 Ne5 23.Nd3 Nc4 24.Nb4 Be6 25.Nxa6 Ra7 26.Nb4 Rxa3 27.Nc6+ Kd6 28.Nd4 Rxe3 29.Bd3 Nd2 30.Rfe1 Rxd3 31.cxd3 Nxb1 32.Rxb1 Rc8 33.Kf2 Ke5 34.Ke3 Bd5 35.Rb5 g6 36.g3 Kd6 37.Rb6+ Kc5 38.Rb5+ Kd6 39.Ra5 Re8+ 40. Kd2 Be6 41.Ra7 h5 42.Nb5+ Ke5 43.d4+ Kf6 44.Nd6 Rd8 45.Ne4+ Kf5 46.Ke3 Bd5 47.Ra5 Ke6 48.Ra6+ Kf5 49.Ra5 Ke6 50.Nc5+ Kf6 51.h4 Re8+ 52.Kf4 Rd8 53. Ra6+ Be6 54.Ke4 Ke7 55.Ra7+ Kf6 56.Ra6 Ke7 57.Rb6 Bf5+ 58.Ke5 Bg4 59.d5 Kf8 60.d6 Re8+ 61.Kf6 Re1 62.d7 Rf1+ 63.Kg5 Ke7 64.Rb8 Bxd7 65.Rb7 Rd1 66. Kh6 Rd5 67.Ne4 Rd4 68.Nc5 Rd5 69.Ne4 Re5 70.Ng5 Re3 71.Kg7 Rxg3 72.Nxf7 Rg4 73.Ne5 Rd4 74.Nc6+ 1-0

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Saydaliev, Saidakbar UZB"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4 12.cxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Nf3 Qd5 15.Qe2 Qc4 16.Qxc4 Bxc4 17.Rd1 O-O 18.Nd4 Rfd8 19.Nc6 Rxd1+ 20.Bxd1 Bf8 21.Bf3 Re8 22.b3 Bd3 23.Be3 Bf5 24.Rd1 Nd3 25.g4 Bg6 26.Bd4 Nb4 27.Nxb4 Bxb4 28.Bb2 c5 29.Bc6 Rb8 30.f4 h5 31.f5 Bh7 32.h3 g6 33.e6 c4 34.Bf6 fxe6 35.fxe6 Kf8 36.Rd7 Bc5+ 37.Kg2 1-0

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir Borisovich FID"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.e3 Bb4 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5 8.Ne2 O-O 9.O-O Qc7 10.Ba2 b6 11.Bb2 Bb7 12.c4 cxd4 13.exd4 Nbd7 14.Rc1 Rfd8 15. Ng3 Rac8 16.d5 exd5 17.Nf5 Re8 18.cxd5 Qf4 19.Rxc8 Bxc8 20.Qf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 Ba6 22.Rc1 Re2 23.Bc4 Rxb2 24.Bxa6 Nc5 25.Bc4 g6 26.Ne7+ Kf8 27.Nc6 Rd2 28.Nxa7 Nxd5 29.Bxd5 Rxd5 30.Nc8 Nd7 31.Rb1 Rd3 32.Nxb6 Nxb6 33.Rxb6 Rxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Yakubboev, Nodirbek UZB"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C70"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nge7 5.c3 Ng6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.exd5 Qxd5 9.Nc3 Bb4 10.Qe2+ Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.O-O O-O 13.d5 Bxc3 14.dxe6 Bf6 15.exf7+ Kh8 16.Be3 Qb5 17.Qxb5 axb5 18.Bc5 Rfd8 19.Rad1 b6 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Be3 Na5 22.Bc2 Nf8 23.b3 Rd7 24.Rd1 Rxf7 25.Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Sindarov, Javokhir UZB"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Bd3 g6 7.f3 Bg7 8.Be3 b5 9.Qd2 Bb7 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Qxh6 b4 12.Nce2 Qa5 13.Nb3 Qc7 14.a3 Nc6 15.O-O bxa3 16.Rxa3 Nb4 17.Na5 Rg8 18.Qd2 Nxd3 19.cxd3 g5 20.Rc1 Qb6+ 21.d4 Bc8 22.Rb3 Qd8 23.Nc6 Qd7 24.Ng3 g4 25.f4 Bb7 26.d5 Kf8 27.e5 dxe5 28.fxe5 Bxc6 29.exf6 Bxd5 30.Rd3 Qa7+ 31.Kh1 e6 32.Rxd5 exd5 33.Qb4+ Ke8 34.Qd6 Qd7 35.Qb4 Kd8 36.Qb6+ 1-0

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Vokhidov, Shamsiddin UZB"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 e5 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d3 g6 8.h4 h6 9.h5 g5 10.a3 f5 11.b4 Nf6 12.Nd5 Bg7 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.Bb2 O-O 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Nxd5 17.Bxg7 Ne3 18.fxe3 Qxg7 19.O-O fxe4 20.dxe4 Rxf1+ 21.Qxf1 Rf8 22.Qd1 Qc3 23.Kh1 Kh8 24.Rb1 Qxc4 25.Qd6 Rf1+ 26.Rxf1 Qxf1+ 27.Kh2 c4 28.e5 Qf5 29.e6 Qe4 30.e7 Qh4+ 31.Kg1 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd Zakovat-Gambit Tournament"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "14"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Nigmatov, Ortik UZB"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 d4 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.O-O Nge7 7.Be4 b6 8.cxd4 cxd4 9.Na3 Bb7 10.Nb5 Nf5 11.d3 Qd7 12.Re1 Bc5 13.Bxf5 exf5 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Nxb7 Qxb7 16.a3 a5 17.Nh4 g6 18.Bh6+ Kg8 19.Nxf5 Qd7 20.Ng3 Be7 21.Qf3 Re8 22. Rac1 1-0

“Young players are especially inspired by playing stronger opponents. That’s why such events are an opportunity for growth”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. “And as for me, too, when I was 6 or 7 years old, I played the best players in China, and that greatly encouraged me”. Photos: Novosti Uzbekistana.

The Last Weekend

14th World Chess Champion Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik (centre) and four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (first from right) graced with their presence the 3rd “Zakovat-Gambit” Blitz Tournament held on November 18–19, 2023, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Amidst them stands Saida Shavkatovna Mirziyoyeva, assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, while next to Kramnik, on the left, is Komil Ismailovich Allamzhonov. Photo: Saida Shavkatovna Mirziyoyeva.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Kramnik attending the final press conference. Photo: Novosti Uzbekistana.

You know, Edna, there are things that are said so as to avoid saying what is painful to say

Artwork © Ju Lie (@juchtx)

Because why

From Stage to Screen

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was one of the six special guests invited to deliver their lectures at the educational TV program “Champions Talk: From the Arena to the Workplace”, co-produced by the Peking University Youth League Committee and China Education Television (CETV) and recorded on 17–19 October at 李莹厅 (Lǐyíng Hall), Peking University.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shared with the audience her journey from first learning chess to winning the Women’s World Championship, and her career transition from World Chess Queen to University Professor in what she now regards as her highest intellectual accomplishment. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) observed that competition is a process of constantly understanding the gap between ideals and reality, as well as the difficulty of ruthless competition. The road to success is full of obstacles and opportunities, but persistence allows one to succeed. In her teaching class she lays particular emphasis on physical and educational development and artificial intelligence technology so as to help her students deeply understand and explore themselves and life through chess. Photos: Peking University Youth League Committee/China Education Television.

As they say, Edna, in order to be irreplaceable one must always be different

Artwork © AP (@artorast)

The One in the Many

Yeah, Edna, she has a voice that can make a blues sound like a sacred chant

Courtesy of Alex 😟 (@cowabummer___)

Hygge

Well, Edna, to quote William Mason, “If we put off repentance another day, we have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in”

Artwork © Tasneem Ahmed

Random Lengths

Finally, asked whether she’d like Fischerandom chess to be included in the programmation of the Online Speed Championship, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) answered diplomatically that it might be interesting, of course, although its guiding principle of avoiding theory and schematizations does not make so much sense with such a format, where the fast and superfast time controls would make the random arrays more unfamiliar and therefore more difficult to cope, behind and beyond the screen. Screenshot from the live stream.

You reached such stellar heights, Edna, that they can do nothing but watch you helplessly through the telescope from their bathroom window

Artwork © koeuvre (@koeuv.re)

Just a Queen

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Semifinal match game 4; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, November 16, 2023

Sicilian Defence B92

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Be3 Be6 10. Nd5 Nbd7 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Bf3. White’s last two moves appear to be quite questionable. Yet now, after 12. f3 d5! Black would achieve all her strategic goals in one blow.

12. ... a5!? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) claims the honour of the initiative by instinctual means. Theoretically speaking, the reference is at least consistent with what is happening on our board today: 12. ... Rfd8 13. Qd2 Rac8 14. Rfd1 Nf8 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Rac1 Ng6 18. Qe3 Nh4 19. Nd2 d5 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Ne4 Qg6 23. Qh3 Rxc2!! 24. Qxh4 Rd4! 25. Qd8+! Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Kh7 27. Rxc2 Qxe4 28. Rc1 Qe2! 29. Rb1 f5! 30. Rdd1 e4 31. Re1 Qc4 32. a3 Qa2! 33. g3 Kg6⩱ (L. M. Evans – Rossolimo, 17th U.S. Chess Championship, New York 1965) and, as International Master Mark Izrailevich Dvoretsky wrote in his homonymous “Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual” (Russell Enterprises, Milford, 2000, p. 377), “here Evans should have seized the opportunity to activate his position, as shown by Yuri Averbakh: 34. Rbc1! Qxb2 35. Rb1 Qxa3 36. Rxb7 or 35. ... Qd2 36. Rb6+ Kg5 37. Re3”.
13. a4 Rfc8 14. Ra3 Rc4 15. Nd2 Rc6 16. Rd3 Nc5 17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. b3 b5 19. axb5 Rxb5 20. Qa1 h6 21. Rd1 Rb6 22. Nf1 Nd7 23. Ne3 Nc5

24. R3d2?! The “tricky” 24. Nf5! Bxf5 25. exf5 Raa6 26. Rd5 a4⩱ may be easier for Black, but it probably was a defensible compromise.
24. ... a4 25. Qa3 Qb7 26. Rxd6?? A deadly poisoned Pawn. White first ought to play 26. b4! Rxb4 27. Rxd6 Rb8⩱ keeping her disadvantage to more manageable proportions.
26. ... Rxd6 27. Rxd6

27. ... axb3! The b-Pawn is going to queen without hindrance.
28. Qb2 (28. Qxc5 b2−+)
28. ... Na4 29. Qb1 b2! 30. Nd1 Ba2! 0–1.

When asked by Jennifer Shahade and Keti Tsatsalashvili how she could play so sharply despite playing so rarely, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) replied: “Am I playing sharp!? I didn’t really feel like that. It’s hard to say, probably it’s something born in nature...”. Screenshot from the live stream.