狄刻 (Dike)

It’s not everyday that the arbiter is the sole most powerful queen of Caïssa’s realm. It happened at the 2nd China Chess King Tournament in 温江区 (Wēnjiāng District), 成都 (Chéngdū), 四川省 (Sìchuān province), China, on November 3–4, 2024, where a tall and slender young woman with long dark hair and oval eyes caught everyone’s glances. She was (is) 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), a four-time Women’s World Chess Champion, who showed up in 成都 (Chéngdū), not for the first time, as referee and judge of man’s affairs. “Refereeing is one of the chores of being a teacher and a researcher after all”, she said speaking to the press. “I hope in the future I will be able to referee international competitions as well”. As for her career path, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said she will never stop playing chess, but not — and no longer — in a totalising way. “Chess helped me understand life by its depth and breadth, and I wish to share my knowledge with anyone who needs it”. But of course, never say never. “That’s how I think now”, she said. “Life is not a predetermined journey. The more the trials of life are unknown, the more life is exciting!”.

The refereeing in 成都 (Chéngdū) was capably and charmingly handled by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in all two days of the 2nd China Chess King Tournament. Photos: 成都棋院丨成都市智力运动中心 (Chéngdū Chess Academy | Chéngdū MindSports Centre).