Lectio magistralis

鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 31, 2025

French Defence C01

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Bg5?! More advisable is 9. Nbd2, after which there might follow (by transposition) 9. ... Nc6 10. Nb3 Bd6 11. h3 h6 12. Re1 a5 13. a4 Bd7 as in 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Bobrowska-Soćko, 2nd SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Blitz Tournament, 北京 (Běijīng) 2012 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).
9. ... h6! 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3. Dubious would be 11. Nxg5?! hxg5 12. Bxg5 Qd6! 13. Qf3 Nbd7 leaving White with insufficient compensation for the sacrificed Knight.
11. ... Ne4 12. Nbd2 f5 13. Bxb8 Rxb8 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. c4 Qf6 16. cxd5 Qxb2 17. Nfd2 Bd7

18. Rb1. White (perhaps unnecessarily) gives back her Pawn to move the Black Queen away from the a1-h8 diagonal (assuming it is of any use to her). Likewise after 18. a4 Nc3 19. Qh5 Nxa4 20. Qxh6 Qf6 Black has nothing to worry about. Therefore, White could play at once 18. Bxe4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qe5 with more chances for her to hold than in the game.
18. ... Qxa2 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Bf5 21. Ra1 Qb2 22. Nec5 Qe5 23. Qh5? This aggressive sortie will soon turn into a boomerang. 23. Ra2 was a more meaningful way of going on.
23. ... Rf6! 24. Rad1 Rbf8 25. Rd2? For fear of ... Bf5-c2, but the cure is worse than the disease. A little better was 25. h4, but even then after 25. ... Bc2 25. Rd2 Bxb3 26. Nxb3 Kg7 Black dominates the board.
25. ... Bxc5 26. Nxc5 Qc3. Winning material. The rest is easy.
27. Rfd1 Qxc5 28. d6 Bd7 29. Kh1 Qc4 30. Rd5. Desperation.
30. ... Bg4 31. Rxg5+ hxg5 32. Qxg5+ Kh7 33. Rc1

33. ... Rxf2! 34. Qe7+ R8f7 35. Qh4+ Kg6 0–1.

Praeceptrix Chinae 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) taught her young opponent a hard lesson. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Hey, Edna, their tragedy is that, in spite of their mystifications and intrigues, no one will never be able to take your place!

Photo © morozelen

A Voice from Heaven

Hy

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 任肖伊 (Rèn Xiàoyī)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–成都蓓蕾队 (Chéngdū Bèilěi Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 30, 2025

Giuoco Piano C50

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 h6 5. Nc3 d6 6. a3 Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Na4 Bb6 9. b4 Qf6 10. c4 Bd4 11. Ra2 Nge7 12. Be3 Ng6 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. f3 Rf7 16. g3 Raf8 17. Raf2 Qe7 18. f4 Qd7 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Nb2 Kh7 21. Qh5 c6 22. c5 d5 23. Qe2 b5 24. Re1 Rf6 25. Nd1 dxe4 26. dxe4 R6f7 27. Nb2 Ne5 28. Rg2 d3 29. Qe3

29. ... g5! 30. Rf1. Taking the Knight would not lead to any advantage; for example: 30. fxe5 Rf3 31. Qc1 Qd4+ 32. Kh1 Rf2 33. Nxd3 Qxd3 34. Qd1! Rf1+ 36. Rg1 Rxg1+ 37. Kxg1 Qc3 with fairly even chances.
30. ... g4? This is too ambitious. Black had to play 30. ... Nc4 at once, for after 31. Qxd3 Qxd3 32. Nxd3 Ne3 the win of the Exchange is sufficient for her to hold the ending: 33. Ne5 Rg7 34. Rf3 Nxg2 35. Kxg2 gxf4 36. Nxc6 e5 37. Kf2 fxg3+ 38. hxg3 Re8 39. Rf5 Re6 40. Nd8 Ree7 41. Nc6 Re6 with a draw by repetition.
31. Rd2

31. ... Nc4? Now this move causes the whole of Black’s Pawn outposts to collapse. Comparatively better was 31. ... Nf3+, but then after 32. Rxf3 gxf3 33. Rxd3 followed by the capture of the f3-Pawn White remains with two Pawns for the Exchange and a strong advantage in position.
32. Nxc4 bxc4 33. Rc1 e5 34. f5 a5 35. Rxc4 axb4 36. Rxd3 Qa7 37. axb4. White came up with two Pawns ahead and an easily won ending.
37. ... Rd7 38. Rxd7+ Qxd7 39. Qe2 Ra8 40. Kg2 Ra1 41. Rc2 h5 42. Rd2 Qa7 43. Qd3 Ra2 44. h3 Qf7 45. hxg4 hxg4 46. Qe2 Rxd2 47. Qxd2 Qa7 48. Qe2 Qg7 49. Qd1 Kh6? It is as bad a way as another to surrender.
50. Qh1+ 1–0. Mate follows after 50. ... Kg5 51. Qh4#.

The implacable 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) coasted her fourth win in a row. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Just so, Edna. Once again you are the best thing that has ever happened in their life, even if they still do not know it

Artwork © Ross Ebrus (@rossebrus)

Through the Sunshine

孙方卉 (Sūn Fānghuì) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 重庆九龙坡队 (Chóngqìng Jiǔlóngpō Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 29, 2025

Sicilian Defence B81

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 e5 7. Nf5 g6 8. Ne3 Nc6 9. g5. 9. h3!? Be6 10. Ned5 Bg7 11. Be3 0-0 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. 0-0-0 led to interesting play in R. J. Fischer – Lister, 50-board simultaneous exhibition, Toronto 1964.
9. ... Nh5 10. Ned5 Bg7 11. Be3 0-0 12. Be2?! A preferable approach is 12. Qd2 f5 13. gxf6 Nxf6 14. 0-0-0 as recently seen in Zuferi – Möller, 34th German Blitz Championship, Munich 2025 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).

12. ... Nf4! 13. Nxf4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Re8 15. Qd2 Bxc3! 16. Qxc3? A ruinous mistake. Necessary was 16. bxc3 Rxe4 17. f3 reserving, in extreme cases, the square at f2 for the King.
16. ... Rxe4 17. Qd2. If 17. Be3 then 17. ... d5 with an overwhelming initiative.
17. ... Nd4 18. Be3 Nxe2 19. Qxe2 Bg4 20. Qb5. Or 20. f3 Qa5+ 21. Kf2 Rae8 winning easily.
20. ... Rc8 21. c3 Rc5 22. Qd3 Qe7 23. Kd2

23. ... Bf5! 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Rag1 Re6 26. Qf3 Qd7+ 27. Kc1 Qa4 0–1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is showing herself in splendid form. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

And yet, Edna, you always look like you are not aging at all

Courtesy of Llareli Azocar (@LlareliAzocar)

An Irresistible Light

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 王楚乔 (Wáng Chǔqiáo)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–重庆体育彩票队 (Chóngqìng Sports Lottery Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 28, 2025

French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. a3 Qb6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Na4 Qa5+ 11. b4 Qxa4 12. bxc5 f6 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Bd3 0-0 15. 0-0 Bd7

16. Rb1 Rab8 17. Qc1 Qa5 18. Kh1 Qc7 19. c4 Ng4 20. Bd2 d4 21. Qe1 h6 22. Qg3 Nf6 23. Ne5 Ne7 24. Qh3 Nf5 25. Kg1 h5 26. Qf3 Rfd8 27. Qe2 Be8 28. Ng4 Qf7 29. Nxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rb6 Bc6 31. Qxh5 Ne3 32. Rf2 Kf8 33. Qe2 Ke7 34. Rb1 Nf5 35. Re1 Rh8 36. Qe5 Qxe5 37. Rxe5 Kf6 38. Rfe2 Bd7 39. Bc1 Rbd8 40. Bb2 Bc8 41. g3 Kf7 42. Kg2 Ne3+ 43. Kg1 Nf5 44. Bc1 Bd7 45. Be4

45. ... Bc6? Much better was 45. ... d3! 46. Rd2 Nd4 47. Bb2 Bc6 48. Rxd3 Ne2+ 49. Kf1 Rxd3 50. Bxd3 Nxg3+! 51. hxg3 Rh1+ 52. Ke2 Rh2+ 53. Ke3 Rxb2 54. Kd4 Rd2! 55. Re2 Rd1 making White’s extra Pawn pretty near worthless.
46. Bxf5 exf5 47. Rxf5+ Kg6 48. Rg5+ Kf7 49. Bb2 Rd7 50. Rd2 Rhd8 51. Kf2 g6 52. h4 Be4 53. h5 gxh5 54. Rxh5 Kg6 55. g4 Bc6 56. Kg3 Kf6 57. f5 Kg7 58. Kf4 Kg8 59. Rdh2 1–0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was simply irresistible as she sat, shining in her strength. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Oh yes, Edna, so strong that they will have to stop believing the stories they are telling

Courtesy of CartoonChatter (@ReeseEmanuel-f6h)

Glimpses of Light

倪诗群 (Ní Shīqún) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 中国移动上海队 (China Mobile Shànghǎi Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 27, 2025

Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Qe2 a6 10. Nc3 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bd7 13. Bd3 Bc6 14. a4? The Alapin never gives easy answers to theoretical and practical questions, but this idea will only saddle White with new and greater weaknesses. Much better is 14. Rb1 Nd7 15. Nd4 with a roughly balanced game, Kollars – Sjugirov, Late-Titled-Tuesday-Blitz-November-01-2022, chess.com, November 1, 2022 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
14. ... Qa5 15. Bb2 Nd7 16. c4 Rfd8 17. Bc2 Rac8 18. Rfe1 g6 19. Nd4 Bb4 20. Nb3 Qc7 21. Red1 Nb6 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Nd4

23. ... Bxg2! An elegant petite combinaison which yields Black a Pawn. The technique by which 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) capitalises on it is of the highest order.
24. Kxg2 Nxc4 25. Bxg6 hxg6 26. Rc1 b5 27. axb5 Qb7+ 28. Kg1 axb5 29. Ba1 Bc5 30. Nf3 Qa8 31. Bc3 Qa3 32. Rc2 Qb3 33. Kg2 Qb1 34. Ng5 Qd1 35. Qxd1 Rxd1 36. Ne4 Bd4 37. Bxd4 Rxd4 38. Nc3 b4 39. Ne2 Rg4+ 40. Kh3 Re4 41. f3 b3 42. fxe4 bxc2 43. Kg3 Nd2 44. Nc1 Nxe4+ 45. Kf4 Nc5 46. Ke3 Nd7 0–1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) at her best in her native lands. Photo: 贾紫来 (Jiǎ Zǐlái)/新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Summer Hours

常玉 (Cháng Yù) a.k.a. Sanyu, 《曲腿裸女》 (Nude with Bent Legs), 1965. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Oh, Edna, the more one looks at you, the more ardent becomes the desire to see you better

Artwork © Personajes AI (@alexitogonzalezai)

Take It Easy

Wow, Edna, they need you more than just as a teacher!

Artwork © hico(ひこ) (@@hicoARTSTUDIO)

In Search of Gold

Interviewed after her victorious final match against 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), the newly re-crowned Women’s Speed Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) threw the bottle into the ocean: “This was the first time 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and I played such a long match. It was very intense and fun. We both made some great moves. I think 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was very strong in attack, and I was just a little luckier. I’m honoured to have won this year’s Speed Championship, and I look forward to another opportunity to play 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) again”, she said.

Come on, Edna, don’t always be so fussy about one’s being properly dressed at all times

Artwork © CHUCK ˎˊ˗ (@vv3spa)

Beyond Dichotomies

The East–West dichotomy through the lens of 陈漫 (Chén Màn). Photo © 陈漫 (Chén Màn).

To be sure, Edna! All the world understood that you did it on purpose just to spite him

Artwork © hairfan84

Waking Sleeping Beauty

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

7th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Final match game 3; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 22, 2025

English Opening A14

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. b3 b6 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. g3 d5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d4 Nbd7 9. Nc3 a6 10. e3 Bd6 11. Nd2 Qe7 12. a3 c5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Nc4 Bc7 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Rad8 19. Qf5 b5 (19. ... Nxb3 20. Rad1 b5)
20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. Bxe5?! 21. Qxe5 Qxe5 22. Bxe5 Nxb3 23. Rad1 f6 seems more appropriate for White to stay in her comfort zone.
21. ... Nxb3

22. Bc3! But not 22. Rad1? on account of 22. ... Nd2! actually winning the Exchange, for if 23. Rfe1? then 23. ... Qxe5! 24. Qxe5 Nf3+ gaining a piece.
22. ... Nxa1 23. Bb4 Qd7 24. Qxd7 Rxd7 25. Bxf8 Nc2!? Simpler and better would be 25. ... Kxf8 26. Rxa1 Ke7 with a promising endgame for Black.
26. Bc5 Rd5 27. Be7 Rd7 28. Rc1 Rxe7 29. Rxc2 g6 30. h4 Kg7 31. Kg2 Re6 32. Kf3 Kf6 33. g4 h6 34. Rc7 Rd6 35. Ra7 Ke6 36. Kf4 Kf6 37. g5+ hxg5+ 38. hxg5+ Ke6 39. f3 Rc6 40. e4 Rb6 41. Kg4

41. ... f6?? A gross blunder which loses the game right off. After 41. ... b4! 42. axb4 Rxb4 43. Rxa6+ Ke7 Black shouldn’t have any difficult drawing the same-side, Pawn down Rook ending.
42. Rg7 f5+. Or 42. ... a5 43. Rxg6 Kf7 44. Kf5! b4 45. gxf6 b3 46. Rg7+ Kf8 47. Rg1 b2 48. Rb1 Kf7 49. e5 a4 50. e6+! Rxe6 51. Rxb2 Rxf6+ 52. Kg4 with a book win for White..
43. Kf4 1–0.

Screenshot from the live stream.

Inequalities

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-01"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A12"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "65"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 Nf6 3.Bb2 g6 4.c4 c6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O b6 8.d4 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Ba6 10.Nd2 Rc8 11.e4 dxc4 12.bxc4 e5 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 Ne8 15.Ba3 Nc5 16.Nce4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Bxc4 18.Re1 Bxd5 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Qa4 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Qe7 22.Rad1 Nd6 23.Bd5 Nf5 24.Bg2 Rc7 25.Bh3 Nd6 26.Rd5 Rc5 27.Rxc5 bxc5 28.Qc6 c4 29.Rd1 Ne8 30.Rd7 Qf6 31.Qc8 Bh6 32.Rd8 Kg7 33.Rxe8 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-02"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "93"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.h3 d6 7.c3 h6 8.Re1 Bb6 9.Nbd2 Ne7 10.Bb3 Ng6 11.Nc4 Bc5 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxd2 15. Ncxd2 Re8 16.Qc2 Be6 17.Bxe6 Rxe6 18.d5 Re8 19.Rac1 Rc8 20.Qb3 b6 21.Nd4 Qd7 22.Re3 a5 23.Qb5 Ne5 24.Rec3 Qe7 25.Nf5 Qd8 26.a3 g6 27.Nd4 Nh5 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29.Rxc7 Nf4 30.Rc3 Rf8 31.N2f3 Qf6 32.Kh2 g5 33.Qxb6 Nxf3+ 34. Nxf3 Re8 35.Re3 Ng6 36.Qd4 Qe7 37.Qd2 h5 38.Kg1 g4 39.hxg4 hxg4 40.Nd4 Qg5 41.Nf5 Nf4 42.g3 Nh3+ 43.Kg2 Qf6 44.Re1 Ng5 45.Qd4 Qg6 46.Rh1 f6 47.Nxd6 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-03"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.b3 b6 4.Bb2 Bb7 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.d4 Nbd7 9.Nc3 a6 10.e3 Bd6 11.Nd2 Qe7 12.a3 c5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Rad8 19.Qf5 b5 20.Ne5 Bxe5 21.Bxe5 Nxb3 22.Bc3 Nxa1 23.Bb4 Qd7 24.Qxd7 Rxd7 25.Bxf8 Nc2 26.Bc5 Rd5 27.Be7 Rd7 28.Rc1 Rxe7 29.Rxc2 g6 30.h4 Kg7 31.Kg2 Re6 32.Kf3 Kf6 33.g4 h6 34.Rc7 Rd6 35.Ra7 Ke6 36.Kf4 Kf6 37.g5+ hxg5+ 38.hxg5+ Ke6 39.f3 Rc6 40.e4 Rb6 41.Kg4 f6 42.Rg7 f5+ 43.Kf4 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-04"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Re1 d6 7.a4 Be6 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.c3 a5 10.h3 Qd7 11.Na3 h6 12.Nc4 Rf7 13.d4 exd4 14.cxd4 Raf8 15.Bd2 b6 16.Bc3 Nh7 17.d5 Nd8 18.Re3 Ng5 19.Ncd2 e5 20.Rc1 Rf4 21.Nxg5 Bxg5 22. Nf3 Rxf3 23.Rxf3 Rxf3 24.gxf3 Bxc1 25.Qxc1 Qxh3 26.Bd2 Qxf3 27.Qxc7 Nf7 28.Qc8+ Kh7 29.Qe6 Ng5 30.Bxg5 hxg5 31.Qxd6 Qxe4 32.Qe6 Qe1+ 33.Kg2 Qe4+ 34.Kg1 Qe1+ 35.Kg2 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-05"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "92"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.d5 Na6 7.Nc3 Nc5 8.O-O e6 9.Nd4 a5 10.e4 e5 11.Ndb5 O-O 12.f4 Ne8 13.f5 c6 14.Na3 Nd6 15.Be3 Rc8 16. g4 Re8 17.dxc6 dxc6 18.g5 Qc7 19.Qe2 Rcd8 20.Rad1 Bc8 21.f6 Bf8 22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.b3 Nb7 24.Nc2 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Nd8 26.h4 Ne6 27.Qf2 Rd8 28.Rxd8 Qxd8 29.Bf1 h6 30.Qe3 Nf4 31.Na4 Ne6 32.gxh6 Kh7 33.Ne1 Bxh6 34.Qg3 Qd4+ 35.Kh1 Qxe4+ 36.Ng2 Qb1 37.Qf2 Qe4 38.Nc3 Qd4 39.Qxd4 cxd4 40.Ne4 Nf4 41.Nd6 Be6 42.Nxf4 Bxf4 43.Bg2 c5 44.Be4 Bg3 45.Nb7 Bxh4 46.Nxc5 Bc8 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-06"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C90"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bb5 c5 9.Ba4 a6 10.Nbd2 b5 11.Bc2 Nc6 12.h3 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 h6 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Be6 19.Bf4 Rc8 20.Bb3 Qd7 21.Rad1 Bxb3 22.axb3 Qe6 23.Re3 Rcd8 24.Rde1 g5 25.e5 gxf4 26.exf6 fxe3 27.Rxe3 Qc8 28. Rc3 Re1+ 29.Kh2 Qe6 30.Nh5 Kh8 31.Rg3 Rc8 32.Nf4 Qe5 33.Qa7 Rcc1 34.Rg4 Qxf6 35.Qa8 Qe7 36.Nd5 Qe5+ 37.f4 Rh1+ 38.Kg3 Qe1+ 39.Kf3 Rf1# 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-07"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.O-O Bg7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 O-O 9.Bxd7 Nfxd7 10.Qe3 Nc6 11.b3 Qb6 12.Qd2 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Qxd4 Bxd4 15.Bd2 Nc5 16.Rae1 f5 17.exf5 Rxf5 18.Nd5 Rxf2 19.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 20.Kxf2 Nd3+ 21.Ke3 Nxe1 22.Bxe1 Kf7 23.g4 e6 24.Nc3 Rd8 25.Bh4 Rd7 26.Ne4 h6 27.g5 h5 28.Nf6 Rc7 29.Bg3 Rc6 30.a4 a6 31.h4 Ke7 32.Kd4 Rb6 33.Kc3 Rc6 34.a5 d5 35.Kd4 dxc4 36.bxc4 Rc8 37.c5 e5+ 38.Bxe5 Ke6 39.Ne4 Rf8 40.Bf6 Rd8+ 41. Bxd8 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-08"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C90"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bb5 a6 9.Ba4 b5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.h3 h6 13.Nf1 Be6 14.Ng3 Re8 15.Nh2 Bf8 16.f4 exf4 17.Bxf4 d5 18.e5 Nd7 19.Nf3 d4 20.cxd4 cxd4 21.Bb3 Nc5 22.Bxe6 Nxe6 23.Bd2 Nc5 24.Qe2 Qd5 25.Nh5 f6 26.b4 Na4 27.Nf4 Qd8 28.e6 Nxb4 29. Nh4 Nc3 30.Nf5 Nxe2+ 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-09"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5 5.Bxb4 cxb4 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Nf3 d6 8.O-O a5 9.a3 Na6 10.Qd3 Qc7 11.Nbd2 e5 12.e3 Re8 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nge4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Bh3 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Bd5 Bf5 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 bxa3 20.Rxa3 Nb4 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Nf3 Qc7 23.b3 Rad8 24.Raa1 Rd3 25.Nd4 Qd7 26.Nf5 g6 27.Nxh6+ Kg7 28.Qh4 Rh8 29.Rxa5 Rxh6 30.Qe4 Nc6 31.Rd5 Rxd5 32.cxd5 Ne7 33.Rd1 Qd6 34. h4 Rh8 35.f4 exf4 36.gxf4 Nf5 37.Rd3 Rxh4 38.Qf3 Qf6 39.d6 Nxd6 40.e4 Qe7 41.e5 Nf5 42.Rc3 Rh8 43.Qd5 Qh4 44.Qf3 Qh2+ 45.Kf1 Ra8 46.Rc1 Ra2 47.e6 Ng3+ 48.Ke1 Qg1+ 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-10"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.Bg2 d6 6.c3 O-O 7.O-O a5 8.a4 Re8 9. Nbd2 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Re1 Nf6 12.Nc4 e4 13.dxe4 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Nxe4 15.Be3 Be6 16.Bxc5 Nxc5 17.Nfd2 Red8 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Ne5 Rdb8 20.Ndc4 f6 21.Nxc6 Bxc4 22.Nxb8 Rxb8 23.b4 axb4 24.cxb4 Rxb4 25.a5 Na6 26.Rd7 Bb5 27.Re7 Kf8 28.Re3 h5 29.h4 Bc6 30.Rc3 Bb7 31.Rd1 c5 32.Kf1 c4 33.Ke2 Nc5 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-11"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "111"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.O-O Bg7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 O-O 9.Bxd7 Nfxd7 10.Qe3 Nc6 11.Bd2 a6 12.Rac1 Nc5 13.Qe2 Ne6 14.Be3 Rb8 15.Rfd1 b6 16.Nd5 Nc5 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bh4 Qd7 19.b4 Ne6 20.b5 Ncd4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Rxd4 Bxd4 23.Bxe7 axb5 24.cxb5 Rfc8 25.Rd1 Bg7 26.Bf6 Qe6 27.Ne7+ Kh7 28.Nxc8 Bxf6 29.Rxd6 Rxc8 30.Rxe6 Rc1+ 31.Qf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 fxe6 33.f4 Bc3 34.Ke2 Kg7 35.Kd3 Ba5 36.g3 Kf6 37.Ke3 Ke7 38.e5 Kf7 39.Ke4 Bb4 40.h4 Bc5 41.Kf3 Bd4 42.Ke4 Bf2 43.Kf3 Be1 44.Kg4 Kg7 45.Kf3 g5 46.h5 gxf4 47. gxf4 Kf7 48.Ke4 Ke7 49.Kf3 Kd7 50.Ke4 Ke7 51.Kf3 Kd7 52.Ke4 Bd2 53.Kf3 Bc1 54.Ke4 Ke7 55.Kf3 Kf7 56.Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-12"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 f6 7.O-O Be6 8.Re1 Qd7 9.Nc3 O-O-O 10.Nxd5 Bxd5 11.a3 h5 12.b4 Kb8 13.b5 Ne7 14.c4 Bxc4 15. Be3 Bxb5 16.d4 Nf5 17.Qb3 Bc6 18.dxe5 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Be7 20.Rab1 Ka8 21.Rb3 Bd5 22.Rc3 c6 23.e6 Qc7 24.Nh4 Rhe8 25.Ng6 Qa5 26.Bxd5 Qxd5 27.Nf4 Qa5 28. Ng6 a6 29.Rb3 Bc5 30.Qe2 Rd2 31.Qe4 Bxf2+ 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-13"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A15"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 g6 5.d4 Bg7 6.d5 Na6 7.Nc3 Nc5 8.Nd4 e5 9.Nc2 a5 10.O-O O-O 11.e4 d6 12.b3 h6 13.Bd2 Nh7 14.Qe2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Nb5 f4 17.gxf4 exf4 18.Ncd4 Ng5 19.Rae1 Be5 20.Qh5 Kh7 21.Nf3 Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Bc8 23.Rxe5 dxe5 24.Qxe5 Bh3 25.Re1 Rf7 26.Kh1 Qh4 27.d6 Rg8 28.Qd4 c6 29.Bxc6 Qg5 30.Qd5 Rf5 31.Qf3 Qh4 32.d7 Bg2+ 33.Qxg2 Rxg2 34.Kxg2 Qg4+ 35.Kh1 f3 36.Rg1 Qh4 37.Nd6 Rh5 38.Bf4 Qxf4 39.Rg3 Qc1+ 40.Rg1 Qf4 41.Rg3 Qxd6 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-14"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "117"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d3 Nf6 6.d4 d5 7.Bd3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.h3 c5 10.Re1 Nc6 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Nc3 h6 13.Bf4 Be6 14.Qd2 d4 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Rxe4 Bf5 17.Re2 Qf6 18.Be5 Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Bb6 21.Rae1 Rfd8 22.Re7 Rab8 23.R1e2 Bc5 24.R7e5 b6 25.Qe4 g6 26.a3 a5 27.Ne1 Rbc8 28. Nd3 Kg7 29.Qb7 Bd6 30.R5e4 Rc7 31.Qa6 Rdc8 32.Ne1 h5 33.h4 Bc5 34.Qd3 Re7 35.g3 Rxe4 36.Qxe4 Rd8 37.Nd3 Rd7 38.Kg2 Re7 39.Qf3 Rxe2 40.Qxe2 Bd6 41. Qe4 Bc5 42.Qd5 Qe7 43.Kf3 Qf6+ 44.Ke2 Qe7+ 45.Qe5+ Qxe5+ 46.Nxe5 Kf6 47. Nf3 Ke6 48.Ng5+ Ke7 49.Kd3 f6 50.Nf3 Kd6 51.Nxd4 Kd5 52.c4+ Ke5 53.b4 Bxd4 54.f4+ Kf5 55.Kxd4 Kg4 56.bxa5 bxa5 57.c5 Kxg3 58.c6 Kxh4 59.c7 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-15"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "72"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 b6 7.Bd3 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.O-O O-O 11.Bxb4 Naxb4 12.Nbd2 d6 13.Ne4 dxe5 14.dxe5 Rc8 15.a3 Nc6 16.Rc1 Rc7 17.Qa4 Qd7 18.Qb3 Na5 19.Qd3 Rfc8 20.Rxc7 Qxc7 21.b4 Qc4 22.Qxc4 Nxc4 23.Rc1 b5 24.Nd4 a6 25.g3 Rc7 26.Ra1 Nxe5 27.Nc5 Nc6 28.Nxa6 Nxd4 29.Nxc7 Nxc7 30.Rd1 e5 31.f4 f6 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.Kf2 Kf7 34.Ke3 Ke6 35.a4 bxa4 36.Ra1 Nc2+ 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-16"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "106"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a5 7.Re1 O-O 8.h3 Be6 9.Nbd2 Ba7 10.Bb5 Ne7 11.d4 Ng6 12.Nf1 Qc8 13.Ng3 c6 14.Bd3 Re8 15.Bg5 Nd7 16.d5 cxd5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxg6 Bxf3 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qxf3+ Kg8 21.Qd5+ Kh8 22.Qxd6 Nc5 23.Rad1 e4 24.Be3 Nd3 25.Re2 Bxe3 26.fxe3 Qc4 27.Qd4 Qxa2 28.Nxe4 Rad8 29.Nd6 Ne5 30.Nxe8 Rxd4 31.exd4 Ng6 32.Nd6 h6 33.Nxb7 Qb3 34. Ra1 Qxb7 35.Rxa5 Nf4 36.Rf2 Qe4 37.Re5 Qb1+ 38.Kh2 Nd3 39.Re8+ Kh7 40.Rfe2 Qd1 41.R8e3 Nf4 42.Rf2 Nd5 43.Ref3 Qe1 44.c4 Nf6 45.d5 Qe4 46.Rf4 Qe5 47. Kg1 Ne4 48.R2f3 Nd2 49.Rf2 Qe1+ 50.Kh2 Nxc4 51.b3 Nd6 52.b4 Qe5 53.b5 g5 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-17"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "89"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 d5 6.Qe2 Be7 7.O-O h6 8.a4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10.Qe1 Qc7 11.Na3 O-O 12.c3 Rad8 13.e5 Nd7 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nb4 16.Be3 Nd3 17.Qd2 Bb4 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Qb1 Bxa3 20.bxa3 f6 21.exf6 Rxf6 22. Rxd3 Bxd3 23.Qxd3 Rcf8 24.Bf4 Qc6 25.h4 Qxa4 26.Re1 Rc8 27.Bh3 Rc6 28.Ne5 Nxe5 29.Bxe5 Rf7 30.Qg6 Re7 31.Bf6 Rf7 32.Be5 Re7 33.Bg2 Qc2 34.Qg4 Qc3 35.Re3 Qc1+ 36.Kh2 Qc2 37.Rf3 Rf7 38.Rxf7 Kxf7 39.Qxg7+ Ke8 40.Qg8+ Ke7 41.Qg7+ Ke8 42.Qf6 Qe2 43.h5 Qxh5+ 44.Bh3 Rc5 45.dxc5 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-18"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.h3 d6 7.c3 a5 8.Re1 Be6 9.Nbd2 Bxc4 10.Nxc4 Re8 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 Nh5 14.Bh2 Nf4 15.d4 Ba7 16.Ne3 Qf6 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Bxf4 gxf4 19.Nh2 Kg7 20.Qg4+ Qg5 21.Nxc7 exd4 22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.cxd4 Bxd4 24.Nf3 Qxg4 25.hxg4 Bxb2 26.Rab1 Bc3 27.Red1 Bb4 28.Nh4 Ne7 29.a3 Bxa3 30.Rxb7 Kf6 31.Ra1 Bc5 32.Ra4 Nc6 33.Nf5 Rh8 34.Nxd6 Bxd6 35.Rb6 Rc8 36.Rc4 a4 37.Rcxc6 Rxc6 38.Rxc6 Ke5 39.Ra6 a3 40.Kf1 Bb4 41.Ke2 Kd4 42.Rc6 Bc5 43.Kd1 Kc4 44.Kc2 Kb5 45.Rc8 Bxf2 46.Kb3 Bc5 47.Rh8 Bd4 48.Rxh6 f6 49.Kxa3 Kc4 50.Rg6 Kd3 51.g5 fxg5 52.Rxg5 Kxe4 53.Kb4 Be3 54.Rg4 Kd3 55.Kb5 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-19"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "107"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O Be7 7.c3 O-O 8.Nbd2 d5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Re1 b6 11.h4 a5 12.a4 Ba6 13.Qe2 b5 14.axb5 Bxb5 15.c4 dxc4 16.dxc4 Ba6 17.h5 h6 18.Ra3 Qc7 19.Re3 a4 20.Nh2 Nd4 21.Qd1 Bb7 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Ndf3 Nf5 24.Re4 Rfd8 25.Qe2 Nb8 26.g4 Nd4 27.Nxd4 Rxd4 28.Rxd4 cxd4 29.Nf3 Nc6 30.Qd3 Rd8 31.Qe4 Qb6 32.Rd1 Qc5 33.Qc2 Nb4 34.Qxa4 Qxc4 35.Kg2 Qc5 36.Bd2 Nd5 37.Rc1 Qb6 38.Qxd4 Qb5 39.Qe4 Qb7 40.Rc2 Ra8 41.Bc1 Qb3 42.Qc4 Qb7 43.Qc6 Qa7 44.Qc4 Nb4 45.Re2 Rd8 46.Be3 Qb7 47.Rd2 Nd5 48. Bd4 Nf4+ 49.Kg3 Nd5 50.Be3 Rc8 51.Qd4 Nxe3 52.fxe3 Bc5 53.Qd7 Qa6 54.Rc2 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-20"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bb5 c5 9.Ba4 h6 10.h3 Nc6 11.Nbd2 Be6 12.Nf1 a6 13.Ng3 b5 14.Bc2 Re8 15.Nh2 d5 16.Qf3 Bf8 17.Nf5 d4 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 dxc3 20.bxc3 b4 21.Bd2 bxc3 22. Bxc3 g6 23.Ba4 Rc8 24.Ne3 Nd4 25.Bxd4 cxd4 26.Nd5 Bxd5 27.Bxe8 Be6 28.Ba4 Qg5 29.Bd1 Rc3 30.Be2 a5 31.a4 Bb4 32.Reb1 Kg7 33.Bd1 Bc4 34.Be2 Be6 35. Qg3 Rc2 36.Bd1 Rc3 37.Qf3 Bc4 38.Be2 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.22"]
[Round "04-21"]
[White "居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) CHN"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "106"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.d3 e6 10.Bf4 Be7 11.Nbd2 O-O 12.a3 b5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nh4 Nd7 15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Bg3 Bh4 17.Bg2 Bxg3 18.fxg3 Qf6 19.Qe2 h5 20.gxh5 Qe5 21.Nf3 Qxg3 22. hxg6 Nde5 23.Nxe5 Nxe5 24.Rf1 Nxg6 25.Rf3 Qg5 26.Raf1 Nf4 27.Qc2 e5 28.Kh2 Rf6 29.Bh1 Raf8 30.d4 Kh7 31.dxc5 dxc5 32.Qd2 Rh6 33.Bg2 Nxh3 34.Qxg5 Nxg5+ 35.Kg3 Nxf3 36.Bxf3 Rd6 37.Rh1+ Kg8 38.Bg4 Rd3+ 39.Kh4 Rf6 40.Kg5 Kf7 41.Rh8 Rg6+ 42.Kh4 Rh6+ 43.Rxh6 gxh6 44.Bc8 Rd2 45.b4 cxb4 46.axb4 Rd6 47.Kg4 Rc6 48.Bb7 Rxc3 49.Bxa6 Rc4 50.Bxb5 Rxe4+ 51.Kf5 Rxb4 52.Bc6 Kg7 53.Kxe5 Kg6 0-1

Oh yes, of course, Edna: you always look ahead, you never look back

Photo © Ольга Нуарэ / Olga Noiret 🍀 (@noiret.dolls)

Clash of the Queens

Don’t be too modest, Edna, don’t be too modest. You know perfectly well they only have eyes for you!

Artwork © hairfan84

Night school

“They follow more chess than me nowadays”, says 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) about her non-chess-professional students! Caption and screenshot: chess24 (@chess24com).

In a Class of Her Own

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno

7th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Semifinal match game 3; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 20, 2025

Spanish Game C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. Nc3 d6 9. a3 h6 10. h3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. b4 Nc6 13. Nd5 Be6 14. Bd2 Nd4?! This seems at least questionable. More solid is 14. ... Re8 followed by ... Be7-f8.
15. bxc5 dxc5?! 15. ... Bxd5 was now to be taken into consideration by Black; for example: 16. exd5 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 dxc5 18. Qg3 Ne8! defending well enough.
16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Bxe6 fxe6

19. Qg4. Threatening both e6 and h6. Now 19. ... Kf7 holds everything — at least for a while — but too dearly: after 20. f4! Black’s situation is desperate.
19. ... e5! Black makes a virtue of necessity: her phalanx of centre Pawns and her latent pressure against White’s Queenside should sufficiently compensate for the loss of the h-Pawn.
20. Bxh6 Qc8 21. Qg3 Qe6?! An inaccuracy which enables White to take over the initiative on the Kingside. More exact was 21. ... Qe8! 22. Bd2 Qh5! 23. f4 c4! with good play for the Pawn.
22. Bd2 c4 23. f4 Rac8 (23. ... a5 24. h4↑)
24. Bb4 Rfe8 25. fxe5 Bxe5?! 25. ... Qxe5 26. Qg6 Qg5 27. Qxg5 Bxg5 28. Rf5 Be3+ 29. Kh2 cxd3 30. cxd3 Rc3! 31. Rd1 Ra8 32. Rf3± is a line given by the engines and, as such, a not easy one to play.
26. Qg5 cxd3 27. cxd3 Rc2 28. Rf5 Bf6 29. Qg6 Be5? This glaring mistake enables White to end on a high note. However, if 29. ... Rec8 then 30. Raf1 Rc1 31. Be1! Qe7 32. h4! with a crushing attack.

30. Rf8+! 1–0.

Screenshot from the live stream.

The Sceptre of the Kings

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-01"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C93"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 O-O 8.Re1 b5 9.Bc2 Re8 10.h3 h6 11.d4 Bf8 12.Nbd2 Bb7 13.a3 Nb8 14.b4 Nbd7 15.Bb2 Nb6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.c4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 bxc4 20.Nxe5 c5 21.bxc5 Bxc5 22.Nxc4 Nxe4 23.Bd4 Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Nc3 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Kh2 Bc6 27.Nd6 Rd8 28.Bb3 Kf8 29.Rc4 Rxd6 30.Rxc3 Bd7 31.Rf3 Be6 32.Bxe6 Rxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-02"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "160"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 O-O 9.O-O-O d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.a3 Rd8 16.Bc4 Bf5 17.Bb3 Nb6 18.Qe3 Nxa4 19.Bxa4 c5 20.h4 Rab8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.h5 Rd4 23.Bb5 Qb6 24.Be2 Qf6 25.g4 Be6 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.g5 Qf4 28.Qxf4 Rxf4 29.Kd2 Rd4+ 30.Ke3 Bf5 31.c4 Rd6 32.b4 Re6+ 33.Kf2 Ra6 34.bxc5 Rc6 35.Rc1 Rxc5 36.Ke3 e5 37.f4 exf4+ 38.Kxf4 f6 39.gxf6 Kf7 40. Bf3 Kxf6 41.Bd5 g5+ 42.Ke3 Ke5 43.Rh1 Rc8 44.Kf3 Rb8 45.Re1+ Kd6 46.Re3 g4+ 47.Kg3 Bd7 48.Kf4 Rf8+ 49.Kg3 Rh8 50.Kf4 Rh3 51.Re1 Rxa3 52.Rd1 Kc5 53.Bg2 Bc8 54.Bd5 Ra2 55.Rg1 Rf2+ 56.Kg3 Rf6 57.Ra1 Kb6 58.Rb1+ Kc7 59.Ra1 a6 60.c5 Rh6 61.Be4 Rh3+ 62.Kf4 Rc3 63.c6 Rc5 64.Rh1 a5 65.Rh7+ Kb6 66.Rh8 Ba6 67.Rb8+ Ka7 68.Rh8 a4 69.Kxg4 Kb6 70.Rh1 Bb5 71.Ra1 Bxc6 72.Bxc6 Rc4+ 73.Kf3 Kxc6 74.Ke3 Kb5 75.Kd3 Kb4 76.Rb1+ Kc5 77.Ra1 Rb4 78.Kc3 Rb3+ 79. Kc2 Kb4 80.Rh1 Rg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-03"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 h6 10.h3 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.b4 Nc6 13.Nd5 Be6 14.Bd2 Nd4 15.bxc5 dxc5 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qg4 e5 20.Bxh6 Qc8 21.Qg3 Qe6 22.Bd2 c4 23.f4 Rac8 24.Bb4 Rfe8 25.fxe5 Bxe5 26.Qg5 cxd3 27.cxd3 Rc2 28. Rf5 Bf6 29.Qg6 Be5 30.Rf8+ 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-04"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "65"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 O-O 9.O-O-O d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Bc4 Rd8 16.Bb3 Bf5 17.g4 Be6 18.Nc5 Nf4 19.Nxe6 Nxe6 20.Qe3 Nf4 21. h4 h6 22.h5 g5 23.Qe4 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rd8 25.Bxf7+ Kg7 26.Rxd8 Qxd8 27.Bc4 Qd6 28.c3 Qc5 29.b4 Qd6 30.Kc2 e6 31.a4 Kf6 32.Qh7 Ke5 33.Qg7# 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-05"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "117"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Rb8 10.h3 h6 11.Bd2 Re8 12.Nd5 Bf8 13.a4 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Ne7 15.Bb3 Ng6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ra7 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.d4 c5 20.dxc5 dxc5 21.Be3 Qb6 22. Rd7 Qc6 23.Qd5 Ne7 24.Qxc6 Nxc6 25.c3 c4 26.Ra1 b4 27.Nd2 bxc3 28.bxc3 Rc8 29.Ra4 Nb8 30.Rb7 Na6 31.Ra7 Nc5 32.Rxc4 Rd8 33.Bxc5 Bxc5 34.Rxc5 Rxd2 35. Rc8+ Kh7 36.Rxf7 Rd1+ 37.Kh2 Re1 38.Rc4 Re2 39.Rf5 Rd6 40.Rc5 Rxe4 41. Rcxe5 Ra4 42.Re7 Rc4 43.Rff7 Rg6 44.Rf3 h5 45.Re5 h4 46.Rh5+ Kg8 47.Rd5 Rh6 48.Rd4 Rc5 49.c4 g5 50.Rd5 Rxc4 51.Rxg5+ Kh7 52.Rff5 Rc2 53.Rf7+ Kh8 54.Rd5 Kg8 55.Rf4 Kh7 56.Rdd4 Rb2 57.Rd7+ Kg8 58.Rg4+ Kh8 59.Rc4 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-06"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.d4 b5 6.Bd5 Nxd5 7.exd5 Bb7 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.Be3 Nd7 10.Qe2 g6 11.Ne4 Bxd5 12.Nd6+ exd6 13.Bd4+ Qe7 14.Qxe7+ Kxe7 15.Bxh8 Bxf3 16.gxf3 f6 17.a4 b4 18.h4 Bh6 19.h5 g5 20.c3 b3 21.c4 Rxh8 22.Kd2 Ne5 23.Kc3 Rb8 24.Rh3 Rb4 25.Re1 Kd7 26.Re4 f5 27.Re2 Bg7 28. Kd2 Nxc4+ 29.Kc1 Rxa4 30.Kb1 h6 31.Rh1 Be5 32.Rd1 Kc6 33.Rd3 Rb4 34.Re1 Nxb2 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-07"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Rb8 10.h3 h6 11.Re1 Re8 12.Ne2 Bf8 13.Ng3 Na5 14.Ba2 c5 15.c3 Nc6 16. d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Bf4 Bb7 20.Ndf5 Qd7 21.Qd4 Rbd8 22. Rad1 Kh7 23.Qd2 Ng6 24.Bb1 Nxf4 25.Qxf4 g6 26.Nxd6 Bxd6 27.Qxf6 Qe7 28.Nh5 gxh5 29.e5+ Kg8 30.Qxh6 f6 31.Ba2+ 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-08"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B87"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 a6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.O-O-O Nbd7 11.e5 Bb7 12.Qg3 dxe5 13.Bxe6 O-O-O 14.Bxd7+ Rxd7 15.Nf5 Bb4 16.Nxg7 Bxc3 17.Bxf6 Bd4 18.Ne6 fxe6 19.Bxh8 Be4 20.c3 b4 21. Rxd4 exd4 22.Qxc7+ Kxc7 23.Bxd4 bxc3 24.Bxc3 Bxg2 25.Re1 Bd5 26.b3 Rf7 27. Bd4 Kc6 28.Kd2 Rf3 29.Rg1 Rh3 30.Be5 Be4 31.Rg7 Kd5 32.Bg3 Rh5 33.Ra7 Bg6 34.Rxa6 e5 35.Ra5+ 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-09"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Rb8 10.h3 h6 11.Re1 Re8 12.Ne2 Bf8 13.Ng3 Be6 14.Bxe6 Rxe6 15.c3 d5 16.Qc2 Qd7 17.Be3 g6 18.Rad1 Rd8 19.d4 exd4 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd4 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Nxd4 23.cxd4 Bg7 24.Qe4 Qd6 25.Qc2 Nf4 26.Ne4 Qd7 27.Nc5 Qc6 28.Qe4 Qxe4 29.Rxe4 Bxd4 30.Nxa6 Ne6 31.Nxd4 Nxd4 32.Nxc7 Kg7 33.Kf1 Rd7 34.Na6 Nb3 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-10"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "115"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bb3 d5 10.Qf3 Bb4 11.exd5 cxd5 12.O-O O-O 13.Bd4 a5 14.a3 Be7 15. Rad1 Bb7 16.Rfe1 Qc7 17.Be5 Qb6 18.Qg3 Nh5 19.Qh3 g6 20.g4 Ng7 21.Bd4 Qd8 22.Ne4 a4 23.Ba2 Rc8 24.c3 f6 25.Ng3 Rf7 26.g5 Kh8 27.f4 Bc5 28.Bxc5 Rxc5 29.Ne4 Rb5 30.Nxf6 Rxf6 31.gxf6 Qxf6 32.Re2 Nf5 33.Rde1 Rb6 34.Bb1 Ba6 35. Rf2 Ng7 36.Qe3 Rb7 37.Qe5 Qxe5 38.fxe5 Nf5 39.Bxf5 gxf5 40.Rg2 Bd3 41.h4 Be4 42.Rf2 Kg7 43.Kh2 Kf7 44.Rg1 Rb8 45.h5 h6 46.Rg6 Rh8 47.Kh3 Bd3 48.Kh4 Be4 49.Rf1 Bd3 50.Rfg1 Rh7 51.Rf6+ Ke7 52.Rgg6 Kd7 53.Rxe6 f4 54.Rd6+ Kc7 55.Rgf6 Re7 56.Rxd5 Be4 57.Rc5+ Kd7 58.Rxf4 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-11"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "103"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Rb8 10.h3 h6 11.Nd5 Re8 12.Nxe7+ Nxe7 13.Re1 Ng6 14.c3 c5 15.Bc2 d5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 e4 19.Nh2 Be6 20.Be3 Rbd8 21.Nf1 Nh7 22. Ng3 f5 23.Ne2 Nf6 24.a4 Qd6 25.axb5 axb5 26.Qd2 Nd5 27.Bb3 Kh7 28.Bxd5 Bxd5 29.Nf4 Ne7 30.h4 Bf7 31.Ra7 Kg8 32.Rea1 Nc6 33.R7a6 Qd7 34.d5 Ne5 35. Ra7 Qd6 36.R1a6 Qf8 37.Qd4 Nc4 38.Ng6 Bxg6 39.Rxg6 Re7 40.Bxh6 Rdd7 41. Rxd7 Rxd7 42.Bf4 Qf7 43.h5 Kh7 44.d6 Na5 45.Qe5 Nc6 46.Qxb5 Nd4 47.Qa6 Ne6 48.Be5 f4 49.Qc4 e3 50.Rxe6 e2 51.Bc3 Rxd6 52.Qe4+ 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-12]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B89"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "134"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 e6 7.Be3 a6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bb3 d5 10.Ba4 Bd7 11.e5 Ng8 12.Ne2 Ne7 13.c3 Nf5 14.Bf4 c5 15.Bc2 Nh4 16.O-O Be7 17.Bg3 Rb8 18.b3 Ng6 19.c4 d4 20.Qd3 Bc6 21.f4 Nh4 22.Bxh4 Bxh4 23.f5 Bg5 24.fxe6 Be3+ 25.Kh1 fxe6 26.Ng3 Qg5 27.Ne4 Qxe5 28.Rf3 Rf8 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Ng3 g6 31.Re1 Qg5 32.Ne4 Qh4 33.Rf1+ Kg7 34.Nxc5 Bxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Qg5+ 36.Kh1 Qxc5 37.Qe4 Rf8 38.Rxf8 Qxf8 39.Qg2 a5 40.Be4 Qa3 41. Qc2 Qb4 42.Qe2 Qc3 43.Kg2 Qc1 44.Bd3 Qg1+ 45.Kh3 Qg5 46.Qf3 h5 47.a3 Qc5 48.Qe4 Qf5+ 49.Qxf5 gxf5 50.b4 axb4 51.axb4 Bd2 52.b5 Bb4 53.b6 Bc5 54.b7 Bd6 55.c5 Bc7 56.Kh4 Kg6 57.Kh3 e5 58.Kg2 e4 59.Bc4 f4 60.Bd5 Kf5 61.h3 Ke5 62.Bc6 d3 63.Kf2 Kd4 64.Be8 e3+ 65.Ke1 f3 66.Bxh5 Bg3+ 67.Kd1 e2+ 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-13"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.d3 h6 8.c3 d6 9. Be3 Bxe3 10.fxe3 O-O 11.Nbd2 Be6 12.Qe1 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.d4 exd4 15.exd4 Re8 16.Qf2 Nf6 17.Rae1 Bxb3 18.Nxb3 Qd5 19.Nh4 Rxe1 20.Rxe1 Re8 21.Rxe8+ Nxe8 22.Qf3 Qxf3 23.Nxf3 Nd6 24.Nc5 a5 25.Na6 Ne8 26.Kf2 Ne7 27.Ne5 f6 28. Nd3 Kf7 29.Ke3 Ke6 30.Nac5+ Kf5 31.Kf3 Nd6 32.g4+ Kg6 33.Ne6 Nd5 34.Ndf4+ Nxf4 35.Kxf4 Ne8 36.Ke4 h5 37.Nf4+ Kg5 38.gxh5 Nd6+ 39.Kf3 Nc4 40.Ne6+ Kxh5 41.b3 Nd6 42.Nxg7+ Kg6 43.Ne6 Ne8 44.Ke4 f5+ 45.Ke5 c6 46.h4 a4 47. bxa4 bxa4 48.a3 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-14"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B89"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 e6 7.Be3 a6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bb3 d5 10.Ba4 Bd7 11.e5 Ng8 12.Ne2 Ne7 13.c3 Nf5 14.Bf4 g5 15.Bd2 Bg7 16.Nd4 Bxe5 17.Nxf5 exf5 18.O-O Bf6 19.Re1+ Kf8 20.Qh5 Kg7 21.Bc2 h6 22.Re2 Qc8 23.Qf3 f4 24.Qd3 Bg4 25.Ree1 Bh5 26.Qf1 Bg6 27.Bxg6 Kxg6 28.g3 Qf5 29.gxf4 gxf4 30.f3 Kh7 31.Kh1 Rab8 32.b3 Rhg8 33.Re2 a5 34.Rae1 Rg6 35.Re8 Rxe8 36.Rxe8 Qc2 37.Bxf4 Bxc3 38.Bg3 Qf5 39.Qe2 Bf6 40.Ra8 h5 41. Rxa5 h4 42.Be1 Bd4 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-15"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "143"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.d3 h6 8.c3 d6 9. Be3 Bxe3 10.fxe3 O-O 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Qe1 Nc6 14.h3 Be6 15.Nh4 Nh7 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 g6 18.Rf1 Kg7 19.Bb3 Ne7 20.a4 f6 21.Qg3 Qd7 22.Nf3 Ng5 23.Nh2 c4 24.dxc4 Nxe4 25.Qe1 Nc5 26.Qd1 bxc4 27.Bxc4 d5 28.Be2 a5 29. Bb5 Qe6 30.Qe2 Ne4 31.Bd3 Nc5 32.Bb5 Nf5 33.Qe1 Nd6 34.Nf3 Nxb5 35.axb5 Rfb8 36.Qe2 Nb3 37.Rad1 Rb6 38.Nh4 f5 39.Qd3 Rd8 40.c4 Nc5 41.cxd5 Nxd3 42.dxe6 Rxe6 43.Nf3 Red6 44.Rd2 Nb4 45.Rxd6 Rxd6 46.Nxe5 Rd5 47.Nc4 Rxb5 48.Rd1 Nc6 49.Rd7+ Kf8 50.Rd6 Ne7 51.Ra6 Rb4 52.Nxa5 Rxb2 53.Nc6 Nxc6 54. Rxc6 Kf7 55.Rc3 Re2 56.Kf1 Ra2 57.Rc4 Kf6 58.e4 f4 59.Rc6+ Ke5 60.Rxg6 Kxe4 61.Re6+ Kd3 62.Rd6+ Ke3 63.Re6+ Kd3 64.Rxh6 f3 65.gxf3 Ke3 66.Re6+ Kxf3 67.Rf6+ Kg3 68.Rg6+ Kxh3 69.Rh6+ Kg4 70.Rg6+ Kf5 71.Rg2 Rxg2 72.Kxg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-16"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B86"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.O-O d5 10.Ba4 Bd7 11.e5 Ng8 12.Ne2 Bc5 13.Ng3 h5 14.c4 h4 15.Nh5 g6 16.Nf4 Ne7 17.Bc2 Nf5 18.Qg4 Qe7 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Nd3 Bb6 21.Bg5 Qf8 22.Bf6 Rh7 23.Ba4 Nd4 24.Bxd7+ Kxd7 25.a4 Rc8 26.a5 Ba7 27.Ra4 Nc6 28.Nb4 h3 29. g3 Qc5 30.Nxc6 Rxc6 31.Rf4 Rh5 32.Bh4 Rf5 33.Rxf5 exf5 34.Qxh3 Qxa5 35.Bf6 Rc2 36.Qg2 Rxf2 37.Rxf2 Qe1+ 38.Qf1 Bxf2+ 39.Kg2 Qxf1+ 40.Kxf1 Bc5 41.b3 Ke6 42.Ke2 Bd4 43.Kd3 Bxe5 44.Bd8 Bd6 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-17"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.d3 h6 8.c3 d6 9. Be3 Ba7 10.h3 O-O 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.d4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nc6 15.Nb3 exd4 16.Nbxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Re8 18.Re1 Bb7 19.Bxa7 Rxa7 20.Qd4 Qa8 21.Nd2 Bc6 22.Qxd6 Rd7 23.Qf4 Rde7 24.Re3 Nh5 25.Qh4 Nf6 26.Rae1 Qb8 27.Rg3 Kh8 28. Rge3 Qe5 29.Rc3 Bb7 30.Nf3 Qe6 31.e5 Nd5 32.Rc5 Qb6 33.b4 a5 34.Bb3 Nxb4 35.Rcc1 Nd5 36.Ng5 a4 37.Bc2 Kg8 38.Qe4 g6 39.Nf3 Nf6 40.Qh4 Nh5 41.Qg4 Ng7 42.Nd4 Bc8 43.Qf4 Ne6 44.Nxe6 Bxe6 45.Qxh6 b4 46.Bxa4 Qa5 47.Bxe8 Rxe8 48.Qd2 Bxa2 49.Ra1 Qd5 50.Qxb4 Bc4 51.Rac1 1-0

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-18"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qd3 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Nd5 O-O 11.Bg5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Rae1 Rfe8 15.c3 Bf6 16.h4 Bxg5 17.hxg5 e6 18.dxe6 Rxe6 19.Rxe6 Qxe6 20.Rd1 Re8 21.a4 Qg4 22.Qd5 Qxa4 23.Qxd6 Qb5 24.Qf6 Qc6 25.Qxc6 bxc6 26.Ra1 Re2 27.b4 Rc2 28.Rxa7 Rxc3 29.Rc7 Rb3 30.g3 Rxb4 31.Rxc6 Rb5 32.f4 Rb2 33.Rd6 Kg7 34.Rc6 h6 35.gxh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-19"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D01"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "30"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Bg4 5.Be2 Bxe2 6.Ngxe2 e6 7.O-O Nc6 8.Ng3 cxd4 9.exd4 Bd6 10.Nce2 h5 11.Re1 h4 12.Nf1 h3 13.g3 Ne4 14.c3 Qf6 15.Bxd6 Qxf2+ 0-1

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-20"]
[White "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "148"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.O-O Nf6 6.Re1 Nc6 7.c3 e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Re3 Be7 12.Ne1 f6 13.f3 Ng5 14.exf6 Bxf6 15. Nc2 O-O 16.Nc3 Nf7 17.Re2 Nd6 18.Qd3 Nf5 19.Be3 Nxe3 20.Rxe3 Rae8 21.Rae1 Bh4 22.g3 Bf6 23.f4 g6 24.Nb1 g5 25.fxg5 Bxg5 26.R3e2 Rf6 27.Nd2 Bxd2 28. Qxd2 Ref8 29.Nb4 Nxb4 30.Qxb4 Qf7 31.Qc3 Rf1+ 32.Kg2 Rf2+ 33.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 34.Kh1 Qf5 35.Qe3 Rf6 36.Rc1 Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kg6 38.Rc1 Rf7 39.Kg2 Qg5 40. Qxe6+ Rf6 41.Qg8+ Kh6 42.Qxg5+ Kxg5 43.Rc7 Rb6 44.b3 Kg6 45.Kf3 a5 46.Rc5 a4 47.bxa4 Rb4 48.Rxd5 Rxa4 49.Ke4 Rxa2 50.h4 Re2+ 51.Kf3 Rd2 52.Ke3 Rg2 53.Rg5+ Kf6 54.Kf3 Rd2 55.Ke4 Rd1 56.Kd5 b5 57.Kc5 b4 58.Rg8 b3 59.Rb8 Rd3 60.d5 Rxg3 61.d6 Rc3+ 62.Kd4 Rc1 63.Rxb3 Ke6 64.Rb7 Rd1+ 65.Ke3 Rxd6 66. Rxh7 Kf5 67.Rh5+ Kg6 68.Rg5+ Kh6 69.Kf4 Ra6 70.Kg3 Ra3+ 71.Kh2 Ra2+ 72.Rg2 Rxg2+ 73.Kxg2 Kh5 74.Kg1 Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Online Women's Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2025.08.20"]
[Round "03-21"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Lagno, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna RUS"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.g3 b6 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Qd3 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Rfd1 e4 14.Qxd7 Bxc3 15. Qh3 Qf6 16.Rac1 exf3 17.exf3 Bxf3 18.g4 Bxg2 19.Qxg2 Bd4 20.g5 Qg7 21.Re1 c5 22.Re7 h6 23.gxh6 Qxh6 24.Rce1 Qf4 25.R1e4 Qc1+ 26.Re1 Qf4 27.R1e4 Qf5 28.h4 a5 29.Qg3 a4 30.b4 Rad8 31.bxc5 Bxc5 32.R7e5 Qf6 33.Re2 Rd1+ 34.Kg2 Qc6+ 35.R5e4 f5 0-1

Nothing but an irresistible 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) issue. Screenshot from the live stream.

Come on, Edna, smile for the camera — a big sweet smile

Artwork © hairfan84

The Black Unicorn

Nikolay Nikolaevich Dubovik, a distinguished Russian amateur, poses for souvenir photographs with four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) against the backdrop of the 6th Chess & Jazz Festival at Hermitage Garden in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, July 26, 2025. Photos: Nikolay Nikolaevich Dubovik.

Queens and Queenship in the Cyberworld

What can one say, Edna? The world is great, but you are not small

Artwork © Pat (@artistpattbear)

Where Time Goes

People take photographs in front of a flower arrangement to celebrate the imminent 80th anniversary of the victory in the War against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War which will culminate in a military parade in 北京 (Běijīng), China, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Photo: 王钊 (Wáng Zhāo)/AFP/Getty Images.

Oh yes, Edna, as they say, “one hour’s sleep before midnight is worth two after it”

Courtesy of datkat21 via Comic Studio

Long Time Ago

Professor Mauro Berni (Genoa, Italy) sent me today from his historical archive an unpublished game by the late Italian Women’s Chess Champion Clarice Benini, played in her declining years in a “for men only” domain.
Here it is, with my annotations.

Mario Tamburini – Clarice Benini

Master Tournament of Qualification for the 19th Italian Chess Championship; Levanto, May 8, 1957

Grünfeld Defence D90

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 g6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. e3 Bg7 7. Bd3 0-0 8. 0-0

8. ... b6? This badly weakens the Queenside. 8. ... Nc6 and 9. ... Bg4 are recommended by theory, and also suggested by common sense.
9. b3 Ba6?! If 9. ... Nc6 then 10. Ba3 Bb7 11. Rc1 a6 12. Na4⩲ Kotov – Levenfish, 17th USSR Chess Championship, Moscow 1949.
10. Ba3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nbd7 12. Rac1 Re8. It doesn’t make a good impression, but 12. ... a6 13. Ne5 Rc8 14. Na4± was also clearly to White’s advantage.
13. Nb5 Rf8. If anything, 13. ... e5!? appears to be a little more consistent, but then after 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Rxe5 16. Rc2± White stands much better anyway.
14. Rc2 Ne4 15. Nc7

15. ... Ndc5! A pretty interference by which Black tries to complicate things.
16. dxc5 Qxc7 17. cxb6 Qb7 18. Rc7 Qxb6 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. Bxe7. After all, White is a sound Pawn up.
20. ... Bb2

21. Bxf8. 21. R1c2 might have been simpler.
21. ... Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Qxa2 23. Rf1 Rxf8 24. Qxd5 Nf6 25. Qd4 Qa6 26. h3 Rb8? Losing another Pawn. She ought to play at once 26. ... Qb6, although after 27. Ra1 Rd8 28. Qxb6 axb6 29. Nd4± White is a Pawn ahead with a much better endgame.
27. Ra1 Qb6 28. Rxa7. Now White is two Pawns ahead with a winning endgame.
28. ... Qxd4 29. Nxd4 Ne4 30. Ra2 Nc3 31. Rc2 Nd5 32. Kf1 Kf8 33. Ke2 Ke8 34. Kd2 Kd7 35. Ra2 Rb7 36. Ra5 Kd6 37. f3 f5 38. Ra6+ Kc5 39. Ra5+ Kd6 40. Ra6+ Kc5 41. h4 Re7 42. Rc6+ Kb4 43. Rc4+ Ka3 44. Kc1 Nb4? 1–0. Black resigned without waiting for 45. Rxb4! Kxb4 46. Nc6+ with a piece ahead for White and an easy win.