Caught in the Loop

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Irina Bulmaga

3rd FIDE World Rapid Team Championship; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; London, June 12, 2025

Konstantinopolsky Opening C44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qd6 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. d3 0-0-0 9. g4 Bg6 10. Nh4 Nd4 11. 0-0 Be7 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Ne4 Qd7 14. c3 Nc6 15. Be3 f5 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 Nf6 18. Qa4 Nd5 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Qxd3 21. Rae1 Rd6 22. Kh2 a6 23. gxf5 gxf5 24. Rd1

24. ... Qxe3 (24. ... Rxh3+! 25. Bxh3 Qe2+ 26. Bg2 Rg6 27. Qe4!! Qxf1 28. Bxf1 fxe4 29. Bxe4 Rf6⩱)
25. Rxd6 cxd6 26. Rxf5 Qd3 27. Rf7 Qe2

28. Rxb7!? Tempting, but not true. 28. Qb3! Qb5 29. Qe6+ Kb8 30. Qxd6+ Ka8 31. b4 leaves White with the upper hand.
28. ... Rxh3+! 29. Kxh3 Qh5+ 30. Kg3 Qg5+ 31. Kf2 Qd2+ 32. Kf1 Qd3+ 33. Kg1 Qe3+ 34. Kh2 Qh6+ 35. Kg3 Qg5+ 36. Kf2 Qd2+ 37. Kf1 Qd3+ 38. Ke1 Qe3+ 39. Kf1 Qd3+ 40. Kg1 Qe3+ 41. Kh2 Qh6+ 42. Kg3 ½–½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) wears the team’s uniform, but her heart beats for Kenzo. Photo: ChessBase India.