Quietly

Kim Yew Chan – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

100th Paris City Chess Championship; time control: 1 hour and 30 minutes plus 30 seconds per move at the finish; Paris, July 13, 2025

King’s Indian Defence E60

1. Nf3 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Bg2 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. d4 Nf6 6. c4 0-0 7. d5 Na6 8. Nc3 Nc5 9. Qc2 e6 10. e4 d6 (10. ... exd5 11. cxd5 Re8 12. Re1 c6 13. d6 Ba6 ½–½ Saravanan – Lalić, 35th Zalakarosi Sakkfesztivál, Zalakaros 2016)
11. h3 a5 12. Be3 e5 13. Nd2 Nh5 14. Bf3 Bc8 15. Bg4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nde4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 h6 19. Kg2 Nf6 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Qe2 Rae8 22. h4 Qf7 23. h5 Qd7 24. f3 e4 25. Bxf5 exf3+ 26. Rxf3 Rxf5 27. hxg6 Bd4

28. Raf1! Rh5 (28. ... Rxf3? 29. Qxf3!+−)
29. Rf8+ Rxf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Qxh5 Bxe3 32. Qf3+ Kg7 33. Qxe3 Kxg6. The game is now equal and a draw must follow shortly.
34. Qe4+ Qf5 35. Qe8+ Kf6 36. Qh8+ Kg5 37. Qg7+ Qg6 38. Qe7+ Qf6 39. Qe3+ Kg6 40. Qe4+ Kg5 41. Qh4+ Kg6 42. Qe4+ Qf5 43. Qe8+ Kg5 44. Qe3+ Kg6 ½–½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) came back after a long absence, and as such, had to struggle with herself to play well enough for her fans. Photo: Ligue d’Île-de-France des Échecs.