Artwork © Beats2Dance2 (@beats2dance2)
Friday, October 31, 2025
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Monday, October 27, 2025
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Pilgrimage Panda
On the evening of Tuesday, October 21, 2025, on the next-to-last day of her tour of 甘肃省 (Gānsù), four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave a simultaneous display at 道甘家巷社区新时代文明实践站 (Gānjiāxiàng Community New Era Civilization Practice Centre), 白银路街道 (Báiyín Road Subdistrict), 城关区 (Chéngguān District), 兰州 (Lánzhōu), China. Photo: Chinese Chess Association. |
Fanya The Wednesday Fairy
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and her long-time mentor, Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān), concluded their tour of 甘肃省 (Gānsù) with a sold-out lecture and simultaneous exhibition for pupils in the 火星街小学 (Huǒxīngjiē Elementary School), 七里河区 (Qīlǐhé District), 兰州 (Lánzhōu), China. Photos: 中国国际象棋协会 (Chinese Chess Association). |
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Friday, October 24, 2025
Sliding Doors
War is peace
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, October 23, 2025
Among the horrors of war which are often forgotten is its surviving in peacetime through its industrial transformations. It is known — but forgotten — that the barbed wires with which many still fence off their fields and properties come from the trenches of the First World War and are stained with the blood of countless dead soldiers; it is known — but forgotten — that the dinghies which crowd our beaches were invented for the landing of troops in Normandy in the Second World War; it is known — but forgotten — that the herbicides used in agriculture derive from those used by the Americans to deforest Vietnam; and, last and worst consequence of all, nuclear power plants with their indestructible waste are the “peaceful” transformation of atomic bombs. And it is well to remember, as Simone Weil comprehended, that external war is always also a civil war, that foreign policy is, in thruth, a domestic policy. Reversing Clausewitz’s formula, now politics is nothing but a continuation of war by other means.
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, October 23, 2025
Among the horrors of war which are often forgotten is its surviving in peacetime through its industrial transformations. It is known — but forgotten — that the barbed wires with which many still fence off their fields and properties come from the trenches of the First World War and are stained with the blood of countless dead soldiers; it is known — but forgotten — that the dinghies which crowd our beaches were invented for the landing of troops in Normandy in the Second World War; it is known — but forgotten — that the herbicides used in agriculture derive from those used by the Americans to deforest Vietnam; and, last and worst consequence of all, nuclear power plants with their indestructible waste are the “peaceful” transformation of atomic bombs. And it is well to remember, as Simone Weil comprehended, that external war is always also a civil war, that foreign policy is, in thruth, a domestic policy. Reversing Clausewitz’s formula, now politics is nothing but a continuation of war by other means.
(English translation by I, Robot)
Cagnaccio di San Pietro, Primo denaro (Money first), 1928. Courtesy of WikiArt. |
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Powdered sugar
On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave a 16-board simultaneous exhibition in 兰州 (Lánzhōu), 甘肃省 (Gānsù province), China, as part of the institutional program “奋进新征程 运动促健康” (“Strive for a New Journey, Exercise Promotes Health”). Photo: 中国国际象棋协会 (Chinese Chess Association). |
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Stuck in the Sixties
Alberto Mario Giustolisi – Giorgio Porreca
25th Italian Chess Championship; Naples, August 1964
Sicilian Defence B30
25th Italian Chess Championship; Naples, August 1964
Sicilian Defence B30
Notes by International Master Francesco Scafarelli, Ajedrez Español, No. 1, January 1965, pp. 36-37.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. 0-0 d5? A move that has the disadvantage of weakening the c-Pawn.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. 0-0 d5? A move that has the disadvantage of weakening the c-Pawn.
6. Qe2! e6. If 6. ... Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. g4.
7. d3 Bd6 8. b3 Ne7 9. e5. Better than 9. Bb2 right away, which would be answered by 9. ... f6!.
9. ... Bb8 10. Ba3 Qa5. Against 10. ... Ba7 there would simply follow 11. Nc3 and 12. Nc3-a4.
11. Qe1 Qxe1 12. Rxe1 c4 13. dxc4 dxc4 14. bxc4. The alternative 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Nbd2 was interesting, since the Black Bishops would be blocked.
14. ... f6 15. Nc3 Ng6
7. d3 Bd6 8. b3 Ne7 9. e5. Better than 9. Bb2 right away, which would be answered by 9. ... f6!.
9. ... Bb8 10. Ba3 Qa5. Against 10. ... Ba7 there would simply follow 11. Nc3 and 12. Nc3-a4.
11. Qe1 Qxe1 12. Rxe1 c4 13. dxc4 dxc4 14. bxc4. The alternative 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Nbd2 was interesting, since the Black Bishops would be blocked.
14. ... f6 15. Nc3 Ng6
16. Bd6 Nxe5. 16. ... Bxd6 17. exd6 e5 offers greater resistance, although after 18. c5 White’s advantage is evident.
17. Bxe5 fxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 0-0 20. Rb1 Ra7 21. Ne4 Rc7 22. c5 Kf7 23. Nd6+ Ke7 24. Rb4 Bd7 25. h4 Be8 26. Re3 Bg6 27. Rg4 Rg8 28. c4 Rd7 29. Ra3 Ra7 30. Rgg3 Kd7 31. Rgb3 Kc7 32. Rb6 Bc2 33. Re3 Kd7 34. Rf3 Bg6 35. Rfb3 Ke7 36. Rxc6 1–0. Excellent positional play by the new Champion in this game.
17. Bxe5 fxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 0-0 20. Rb1 Ra7 21. Ne4 Rc7 22. c5 Kf7 23. Nd6+ Ke7 24. Rb4 Bd7 25. h4 Be8 26. Re3 Bg6 27. Rg4 Rg8 28. c4 Rd7 29. Ra3 Ra7 30. Rgg3 Kd7 31. Rgb3 Kc7 32. Rb6 Bc2 33. Re3 Kd7 34. Rf3 Bg6 35. Rfb3 Ke7 36. Rxc6 1–0. Excellent positional play by the new Champion in this game.
Monday, October 20, 2025
A Sunday Kind of Magic
On Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2025, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and her long-time mentor, Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān), gave a special lecture and then interacted with a crowd of enthusiasts gathered on the third-floor conference room of 敦煌市综合体育馆 (Dūnhuáng Gymnasium) in 敦煌 (Dūnhuáng), 甘肃省 (Gānsù province), China. Photo: 敦煌市体育活动中心 (Dūnhuáng Sports Centre). |
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Rome–Naples Direttissima
Professor Mauro Berni (Genoa, Italy) sent me today from his historical paper archive a not-yet-known (at least in Italy) game by International Master Alberto Mario Giustolisi from the 25th Italian Chess Championship (Naples, August 20-30, 1964), which was originally published in Ajedrez Español, No. 1, January 1965, p. 37.
Here it is, with my light annotations.
Here it is, with my light annotations.
Alberto Mario Giustolisi – Giuseppe Primavera
25th Italian Chess Championship; Naples, August 1964
Pirc Defence B07
25th Italian Chess Championship; Naples, August 1964
Pirc Defence B07
1. d4 Nf6 2. g3 d6 3. Bg2 g6 4. e4 Bg7 5. Ne2 0-0 6. h3. Or 6. 0-0 e5 7. Nbc3 exd4 8. Nxd4 Nbd7 9. h3⩲ with a slight edge for White, Giustolisi – Palmiotto, 27th Italian Chess Championship, Rovigo 1966.
6. ... e5 7. Nbc3 Nc6 8. Be3 Re8 9. 0-0 Bd7. This is strategically critical, as it hands White a clear space advantage. 9. ... exd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 seems to be preferable.
10. d5! Ne7 11. Qd2 Qc8 12. Kh2
6. ... e5 7. Nbc3 Nc6 8. Be3 Re8 9. 0-0 Bd7. This is strategically critical, as it hands White a clear space advantage. 9. ... exd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 seems to be preferable.
10. d5! Ne7 11. Qd2 Qc8 12. Kh2
12. ... Nh5? A useless move that serves no purpose but to leave White free hand in the carrying on of his Kingside crescendo. 12. ... b5!? 13. b4 c6!? was at least worth a try.
13. g4! Nf6 14. Ng3 Kh8 15. f4! exf4 16. Rxf4 Rf8 17. Raf1 Neg8 18. Bd4 Qd8 19. g5 Nh5 20. Nxh5 gxh5 21. Rxf7 Rxf7 22. Rxf7 Be5+ 23. Bxe5+ dxe5 24. Qf2 Be8 25. Rf5 Bg6
13. g4! Nf6 14. Ng3 Kh8 15. f4! exf4 16. Rxf4 Rf8 17. Raf1 Neg8 18. Bd4 Qd8 19. g5 Nh5 20. Nxh5 gxh5 21. Rxf7 Rxf7 22. Rxf7 Be5+ 23. Bxe5+ dxe5 24. Qf2 Be8 25. Rf5 Bg6
26. Qg3! Qd6. If 26. ... Bxf5 then 27. Qxe5+ Nf6 28. gxf6 Qd6 29. Qxd6 cxd6 30. exf5 with an easy win.
27. Nb5 Qe7 28. Rxe5 Qg7 29. h4 h6 30. Nd4 1–0.
27. Nb5 Qe7 28. Rxe5 Qg7 29. h4 h6 30. Nd4 1–0.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Social Housing in Nowhere
A polar bear rests on steps at an abandoned research station on Kolyuchin Island, Russia. Photo: Vadim Makhorov/AP. |
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Monday, October 13, 2025
Imagination seizes power
On artificial intelligence and natural stupidity
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, October 12, 2025
“An age of barbarism is about to begin, the sciences will serve it!”. The age of barbarism is not yet over, and Nietzsche’s diagnosis is now punctually confirmed. The sciences are so intent on fulfilling and even anticipate any need of the age, that when it decided it lacked in the will or ability to think, it immediately provided it with a device dubbed “Artificial intelligence” (AI for short). The name is not transparent, because the problem with AI is not that it is artificial (thought, as inseparable from language, always implies an art, or part of an artifice), but that it places itself outside the mind of the subject who thinks or should think. In this it resembles Averroes’s separate intellect, which, according to the genius Andalusian philosopher, was unique for all people. For Averroes, the problem was consequently that of the relation between separate intellect and the single individual. If intelligence is separate from single individuals, how can they join it to think? Averroes’s answer is that single individuals commuinicated with the separate intellect through imagination, which remains individual. It is certainly a symptom of the barbarity of the age, as well as its utter lack of imagination, that this problem is not posed for artificial intelligence. If it were simply a tool, like mechanical calculators, the problem would not actually exist. If, however, one assumes, as in fact is the case, that AI, like Averroes’s separate intellect, thinks, then the problem of its relation with the thinking subject cannot be avoided. Bazlen once said that in our times intelligence has ended up in the hands of the stupid. It is then possible that the crucial problem of our times takes this form: how can a stupid — that is, a non-thinking — get into a relation with an intelligence that claims to think outside of him?
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, October 12, 2025
“An age of barbarism is about to begin, the sciences will serve it!”. The age of barbarism is not yet over, and Nietzsche’s diagnosis is now punctually confirmed. The sciences are so intent on fulfilling and even anticipate any need of the age, that when it decided it lacked in the will or ability to think, it immediately provided it with a device dubbed “Artificial intelligence” (AI for short). The name is not transparent, because the problem with AI is not that it is artificial (thought, as inseparable from language, always implies an art, or part of an artifice), but that it places itself outside the mind of the subject who thinks or should think. In this it resembles Averroes’s separate intellect, which, according to the genius Andalusian philosopher, was unique for all people. For Averroes, the problem was consequently that of the relation between separate intellect and the single individual. If intelligence is separate from single individuals, how can they join it to think? Averroes’s answer is that single individuals commuinicated with the separate intellect through imagination, which remains individual. It is certainly a symptom of the barbarity of the age, as well as its utter lack of imagination, that this problem is not posed for artificial intelligence. If it were simply a tool, like mechanical calculators, the problem would not actually exist. If, however, one assumes, as in fact is the case, that AI, like Averroes’s separate intellect, thinks, then the problem of its relation with the thinking subject cannot be avoided. Bazlen once said that in our times intelligence has ended up in the hands of the stupid. It is then possible that the crucial problem of our times takes this form: how can a stupid — that is, a non-thinking — get into a relation with an intelligence that claims to think outside of him?
(English translation by I, Robot)
陈漫 (Chén Màn), Electronics components N°2, 2009. Photo © 陈漫. Courtesy of the artist. |
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Saturday, October 11, 2025
The Martian Chronicles
The last days of mankind
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, October 11, 2025
Starting from October 1915, after the news of the outbreak of the Great War, Karl Kraus began to write “for a theatre on Mars” the drama The Last Days of Mankind, which he did not want to be put on stage, because “Theatergoers of this world would not be able to bear it”. The drama — or rather, as one reads in the subtitle, “A Tragedy in Five acts” — was “blood of their blood, and its content is the content of those unreal, unthinkable years beyond the reach of walking memory, preserved only in a bloody dream where operetta figures played out the tragedy of mankind”. And in Weltgericht [The Last Judgement], published after the end of the war, he would speak of the “great times”, which he knew “when they were very small; which will become small again, provided they have time left for it”, as times “in which things are happening that could not be imagined and in which what can no longer be imagined must happen, for if one could imagine it, it would not happen”.
Like any relentlessly lucid discourse, Kraus’s diagnosis fits perfectly with the situation we are living in. The Last Days of Mankind are our days, if it is true that every day is the last day, that eschatology is, for the ones able to understand it, the historical condition par excellence. Especially with regard to war, one can say of our times, as Kraus does, that “It’s all too easy to understand the disenchantment of an epoch forever incapable of experiencing such events, or grasping what’s been experienced, compounded by the failure to be convulsed by its collapse”. And even today, when lies about the ongoing war mean to authorise any future war, isn’t it true that “the continuing existence of war appears least inconceivable to people whom the slogan ‘Now we are at war’ enables to commit and endorse every possible infamy?”. And it’s likely that, like Austria in 1919, Europe too will not survive its lies and shames, and in the end will only be able to repeat Kaiser’s words that conclude the book: Ich habe es nicht gewollt, “I did not want it”.
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, October 11, 2025
Starting from October 1915, after the news of the outbreak of the Great War, Karl Kraus began to write “for a theatre on Mars” the drama The Last Days of Mankind, which he did not want to be put on stage, because “Theatergoers of this world would not be able to bear it”. The drama — or rather, as one reads in the subtitle, “A Tragedy in Five acts” — was “blood of their blood, and its content is the content of those unreal, unthinkable years beyond the reach of walking memory, preserved only in a bloody dream where operetta figures played out the tragedy of mankind”. And in Weltgericht [The Last Judgement], published after the end of the war, he would speak of the “great times”, which he knew “when they were very small; which will become small again, provided they have time left for it”, as times “in which things are happening that could not be imagined and in which what can no longer be imagined must happen, for if one could imagine it, it would not happen”.
Like any relentlessly lucid discourse, Kraus’s diagnosis fits perfectly with the situation we are living in. The Last Days of Mankind are our days, if it is true that every day is the last day, that eschatology is, for the ones able to understand it, the historical condition par excellence. Especially with regard to war, one can say of our times, as Kraus does, that “It’s all too easy to understand the disenchantment of an epoch forever incapable of experiencing such events, or grasping what’s been experienced, compounded by the failure to be convulsed by its collapse”. And even today, when lies about the ongoing war mean to authorise any future war, isn’t it true that “the continuing existence of war appears least inconceivable to people whom the slogan ‘Now we are at war’ enables to commit and endorse every possible infamy?”. And it’s likely that, like Austria in 1919, Europe too will not survive its lies and shames, and in the end will only be able to repeat Kaiser’s words that conclude the book: Ich habe es nicht gewollt, “I did not want it”.
(English translation by I, Robot)
Gustave Doré, Dom Quixote luta com os iangueses, 1863. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Friday, October 10, 2025
Flirt
胡为一 (Hú Wéiyī), I quietly wait for the light to pierce my body, 2014. Photo courtesy of 胡为一 (Hú Wéiyī) and Edmond Gallery. |
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Fischerandom Ordering
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kimovich Kasparov
Clutch Chess: The Legends; match game 3; time control: 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move; Saint Louis, October 8, 2025
rnkqbrnb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNKQBRNB w FAfa - 0 1
Position #635
1. e4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. f4 dxe4 4. Bxe4 g6 5. Nc3 Bc6 6. Bf3 Ne7 7. Bf2 Nf5 8. Qe2 Nd4 9. Bxd4 Qxd4 10. 0-0-0 0-0. Classically speaking, an anomalous position with heterogeneous castling has arisen in some particular way (how did the White dark-squared Bishop come out?), but of course that’s another story entirely!
11. Bxc6 Nxc6 12. Nf3 Qb6 13. Ne5 Rad8 14. Qe4? It doesn’t serve White’s cause.
14. ... f5 15. Qe2 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Rd4 17. Rf4 Rfd8 18. Rxd4 Qxd4 19. Re1 c6 20. Qe3 Bg7 21. Qxd4 Rxd4 22. d3 g5 23. a3 Kf7? An inaccuracy which allows White to reorganise and consolidate his army. 23. ... Rd7! 24. b4 Kf7 would have maintained Black’s advantage.
24. Ne2 Rd7 25. d4 c5 26. c3 cxd4 27. cxd4 h5 28. Kc2 Bh6 29. Kd3 g4 30. a4 Bg5 31. a5 h4 32. b4 a6 33. Rb1 Bd8 34. Nc3 Kg6 35. Na4 Be7 36. Nc5 Bxc5 37. bxc5
11. Bxc6 Nxc6 12. Nf3 Qb6 13. Ne5 Rad8 14. Qe4? It doesn’t serve White’s cause.
14. ... f5 15. Qe2 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Rd4 17. Rf4 Rfd8 18. Rxd4 Qxd4 19. Re1 c6 20. Qe3 Bg7 21. Qxd4 Rxd4 22. d3 g5 23. a3 Kf7? An inaccuracy which allows White to reorganise and consolidate his army. 23. ... Rd7! 24. b4 Kf7 would have maintained Black’s advantage.
24. Ne2 Rd7 25. d4 c5 26. c3 cxd4 27. cxd4 h5 28. Kc2 Bh6 29. Kd3 g4 30. a4 Bg5 31. a5 h4 32. b4 a6 33. Rb1 Bd8 34. Nc3 Kg6 35. Na4 Be7 36. Nc5 Bxc5 37. bxc5
37. ... f4! 38. gxf4 Kf5 39. Ke3 Rg7 40. Rg1 Rg8 41. Rb1 Rg7 42. d5! exd5 43. Rb6. Threatening mate at f6.
43. ... g3 44. Kf3 Rg6!
43. ... g3 44. Kf3 Rg6!
45. Rxg6?? A catastrophic blunder in real no time. White could hope for salvation only by not exchanging Rooks: 45. hxg3! (or 45. Kg2! d4 46. hxg3 Rxg3+ with similar lines) 45. ... Rxg3+ (both 45. ... h3?? 46. g4+! Rxg4 47. Rf6# and 45. ... Rxb6?? 46. axb6 h3 47. c6 would be ruinous to Black) 46. Kf2 Kxf4 47. e6 (or 47. Rxb7 Kxe5) 47. ... Rg7 48. c6 bxc6 49. Rxc6 h3 50. Rc3 Rh7 51. e7! Rxe7 52. Rxh3 with a tablebase draw.
45. ... Kxg6 46. hxg3. 46. Kg2 gxh2 47. Kxh2 d4 is the same ending as in the game.
46. ...h3 47. g4 d4 48. f5+ Kg7 49. e6 h2 50. Kg2 d3 0–1.
45. ... Kxg6 46. hxg3. 46. Kg2 gxh2 47. Kxh2 d4 is the same ending as in the game.
46. ...h3 47. g4 d4 48. f5+ Kg7 49. e6 h2 50. Kg2 d3 0–1.
“I expected him to be much quicker in the time trouble, and I think when we reached the critical moment of the game, there was basically a minute left, I did a better job”, Kasparov eventually said. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club. |
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Monday, October 6, 2025
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Of Sugar and Honey
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 白雪 (Bái Xuě)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–浙江绍兴越城队 (Zhèjiāng Shàoxīng Yuèchéng 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; 北京 (Běijīng), October 5, 2025
Spanish Game C86
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Qe2 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 0-0 9. Rd1 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Nc4 13. b3 Nb6 14. a4 Bd7
15. c4 b4 16. a5 Nc8 17. h3 h6 18. Nbd2 Nh7 19. Nf1 Bf6 20. Ng3 Ne7 21. Nh5
Ng6 22. Kh2 Qd8 23. g3 Be7 24. Ne1 Qc8 25. Ng2 Bg5 26. Bxg5 hxg5 27. Ne3
Ne7 28. f4?! f6? (28. ... g6! 29. f5 gxh5 30. Qxh5 f6)
29. f5 Kf7 30. Kg2 Rg8 31. Rh1 Ke8 32. h4 Kd8 33. Ng4 Kc7 34. Raf1 Qf8 35. Qe3 Kb7 36. hxg5 Nxg5
29. f5 Kf7 30. Kg2 Rg8 31. Rh1 Ke8 32. h4 Kd8 33. Ng4 Kc7 34. Raf1 Qf8 35. Qe3 Kb7 36. hxg5 Nxg5
37. Nxe5?! Nxf5? (37. ... dxe5! 38. Qxc5 Nxd5!!)
38. exf5 dxe5 39. g4 Qd6 40. Ng3 Rh8 41. Be4 Rag8 42. Rh5 Rxh5 43. gxh5 Kb8 44. Bf3 Re8 45. Rh1 Qc7 46. Ne4 Nxe4 47. Qxe4 Qd6 48. Kf2 Kc7 49. Rg1 Re7
38. exf5 dxe5 39. g4 Qd6 40. Ng3 Rh8 41. Be4 Rag8 42. Rh5 Rxh5 43. gxh5 Kb8 44. Bf3 Re8 45. Rh1 Qc7 46. Ne4 Nxe4 47. Qxe4 Qd6 48. Kf2 Kc7 49. Rg1 Re7
50. h6! gxh6 51. Rg6 h5
52. Rh6 Rg7 53. Bxh5 Kb7 54. Bg6 Qf8? (54. ... Qc7! 55. d6+ Bc6)
55. Qe3 Kc7 56. Qh3 Kd6 57. Qh4 e4 58. Qh2+ 1–0.
55. Qe3 Kc7 56. Qh3 Kd6 57. Qh4 e4 58. Qh2+ 1–0.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) scored an incredible 10 wins in just 11 games, conceding one draw. Photo: LZMChess. |
Saturday, October 4, 2025
The Magic Ten and Beyond
赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 山东外国语队 (Shāndōng Foreign Languages 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; 北京 (Běijīng), October 4, 2025
Queen’s Gambit Declined D63
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 e6 4. c4 Be7 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8.
Rc1 c5 9. dxc5 dxc4 10. c6 bxc6 11. Bxc4 Nb6 12. Bd3 Nfd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14.
a3 e5 15. Be2 e4 16. Nd2 Nxc3 17. Rxc3 Qg5 18. g3 Rd8 19. Qc2 Nd5 20. Rc5
Bf5 21. Nb3 Bh3 22. Na5 Bg2 23. Rg1 Bf3 24. h4 Qf6 25. Nxc6 Rdc8 26. Nd4
Ne7 27. Bxf3 exf3 28. Kd2 Qb6 29. Rc1 Rxc5 30. Qxc5 Qxb2+ 31. Rc2 Qb7 32.
Qc7 Qe4 33. Qf4 Qd5 34. Qxf3 Qa5+ 35. Ke2 Qa6+ 36. Kd2 Rd8 37. Qe4 Qxa3 38.
Ke2 Nd5 39. Kf3 Nf6 40. Qf5 Qe7 41. Kg2 Re8 42. Rb2 Qc7 43. Qb5 h5 44. Qc6
Rc8 45. Qxc7 Rxc7 46. Kf3 Ng4 47. Kf4 f6 48. Ke4 Kf7 49. Ra2 a6 50. Kd5 a5
51. e4 Ne5 52. Nb5 Rd7+ 53. Kc5 Nd3+ 54. Kb6 Rd8 55. Rd2 a4 56. Kc7 Ke7 57.
Nc3 Rd7+ 58. Kb6 Ne5 59. Nd5+ Kf7 60. Kc5 a3 61. Ra2 Ra7
62. Nc3?? It takes just one blunder to turn a comedy into a drama! 62. Kd4 Ra4+ 63. Kc3 would get White closer to a draw.
62. ... Rc7+ 63. Kb4 Nd3+ 0–1.
62. ... Rc7+ 63. Kb4 Nd3+ 0–1.
Friday, October 3, 2025
The Ninth Hour
肖依依 (Xiào Yīyī) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 天津队 (Tiānjīn 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; 北京 (Běijīng), October 3, 2025
French Defence C01
1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. dxc5 0-0
8. 0-0 Re8 9. Qe3 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Nxc5 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 13. Nd4 Nce4
14. Qf3 Ng4 15. Nce2 Bh4 16. g3 Bf6 17. Bf4 Ne5 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. Rad1 Rae8
20. Nf4 Ng5 21. Qg2 Re4 22. Nb3
22. ... Rxf4! An irresistible temptation. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) sacrifices the Exchange for the sake of the initiative and the not-too-hidden goal of scoring her ninth victory in a row.
23. gxf4 Nh3+ 24. Kh1 Nxf4 25. Qf3 Qc7 26. Rfe1 Re6 27. c3 h6 28. Nd4 Bxd4 29. cxd4 Rf6 30. Rc1 Qd7 31. Qc3 Kh7 32. Qc2+ Ng6 33. Rg1 Qh3 34. Rg3 Qh4 35. Rd1 Rf4 36. Rdg1 Qf6 37. Qb3 Qxd4 38. Rd3 Qxf2 39. Qxd5 Qxb2 40. Rd2? Black’s bet worked. 40. Rf3! Rxf3 41. Qxf3 Qxa2 42. Rf1! would offer White good chances for a draw.
40. ... Qb4 41. Qg2 b5 42. Rf2 Qd4 43. Rxf4 Nxf4 44. Qf3 Qe5 45. Rf1 g5 46. h4 Kg6 47. Qc6+ Kh5 48. hxg5 hxg5 49. Qf3+ Kg6 50. Qc6+ Kg7 51. Qf3 a5 52. a3 b4 53. axb4 axb4 54. Rb1 Qc3 55. Qb7? A little better was to exchange Queens, but after 55. Qxc3 bxc3 56. Rb6 Ne2 57. Rc6 Ng3+ 58. Kg2 Ne4 59. Kf3 f5 Black should win anyway.
55. ... Qh3+ 56. Kg1 Qg3+ 57. Kh1 Nd3? A moment of eclipse. 57. ... Ne2! 58. Qg2 Qh4+ 59. Qh2 Qe4+ would have won at once.
58. Qg2 Qh4+ 59. Kg1 Qd4+ 60. Kh1 Nf2+ 61. Kh2 Qh4+ 62. Kg1 Nh3+ 63. Kf1 Qf4+ 64. Ke1 Nf2? This throws away the win. The right way was 64. ... Qe3+! 65. Qe2 Qg1+ 66. Qf1 Qg3+ 67. Kd2 (neither 67. Kd1 Nf2+ 68. Ke2 Ne4 nor 67. Ke2 Nf4+ 68. Kd1 Nd5 will save White) 67. ... Qc3+ 68. Kd1 Nf4 with an overwhelming attack.
65. Rb3 Ne4 66. Qb2+ Kg6 67. Qd4? A comedy of errors is unleashed as they both miss their only moves. Here White ought to have played 67. Rxb4 f5 68. Qd4 Qh4+ 69. Ke2 Qh2+ 70. Ke1 with a possible draw.
67. ... Qh4+ 68. Ke2 Qh2+ 69. Kd3 f5 70. Rxb4 Qd2+ 71. Kc4 Qc2+ 72. Kd5 Nf6+ 73. Kd6 g4 74. Rc4 Qe2 75. Rc6 Kg5 76. Kc5 Ne4+ 77. Kb4 Qe1+!? Much simpler was to exchange Queens (77. ... Qd2+).
78. Kc4 Kf4 79. Kd5 Qa5+ 80. Ke6 Qa2+ 81. Rc4 Qa6+ 82. Ke7 Qa3+ 83. Ke6 Qa6+ 84. Ke7 Qb7+? Once again, she throws away the win that can be achieved by advancing the g-Pawn (84. ... g3).
85. Ke6 Kg5 86. Qd8+ Kf4 87. Qd2+ Kf3 88. Qd3+ Kf4 89. Qf1+ Kg3 90. Qe1+ Kh3? The game takes a dramatic turn. Black had now to content herself with 90. ... Kf3 91. Rc3+!! Kg2 (91. ... Nxc3? 92. Qh1+ transposes to the game) 92. Rc2+ Kf3 93. Rc3+ leaving her opponent no more than a draw by perpetual check.
91. Qh1+ Kg3
23. gxf4 Nh3+ 24. Kh1 Nxf4 25. Qf3 Qc7 26. Rfe1 Re6 27. c3 h6 28. Nd4 Bxd4 29. cxd4 Rf6 30. Rc1 Qd7 31. Qc3 Kh7 32. Qc2+ Ng6 33. Rg1 Qh3 34. Rg3 Qh4 35. Rd1 Rf4 36. Rdg1 Qf6 37. Qb3 Qxd4 38. Rd3 Qxf2 39. Qxd5 Qxb2 40. Rd2? Black’s bet worked. 40. Rf3! Rxf3 41. Qxf3 Qxa2 42. Rf1! would offer White good chances for a draw.
40. ... Qb4 41. Qg2 b5 42. Rf2 Qd4 43. Rxf4 Nxf4 44. Qf3 Qe5 45. Rf1 g5 46. h4 Kg6 47. Qc6+ Kh5 48. hxg5 hxg5 49. Qf3+ Kg6 50. Qc6+ Kg7 51. Qf3 a5 52. a3 b4 53. axb4 axb4 54. Rb1 Qc3 55. Qb7? A little better was to exchange Queens, but after 55. Qxc3 bxc3 56. Rb6 Ne2 57. Rc6 Ng3+ 58. Kg2 Ne4 59. Kf3 f5 Black should win anyway.
55. ... Qh3+ 56. Kg1 Qg3+ 57. Kh1 Nd3? A moment of eclipse. 57. ... Ne2! 58. Qg2 Qh4+ 59. Qh2 Qe4+ would have won at once.
58. Qg2 Qh4+ 59. Kg1 Qd4+ 60. Kh1 Nf2+ 61. Kh2 Qh4+ 62. Kg1 Nh3+ 63. Kf1 Qf4+ 64. Ke1 Nf2? This throws away the win. The right way was 64. ... Qe3+! 65. Qe2 Qg1+ 66. Qf1 Qg3+ 67. Kd2 (neither 67. Kd1 Nf2+ 68. Ke2 Ne4 nor 67. Ke2 Nf4+ 68. Kd1 Nd5 will save White) 67. ... Qc3+ 68. Kd1 Nf4 with an overwhelming attack.
65. Rb3 Ne4 66. Qb2+ Kg6 67. Qd4? A comedy of errors is unleashed as they both miss their only moves. Here White ought to have played 67. Rxb4 f5 68. Qd4 Qh4+ 69. Ke2 Qh2+ 70. Ke1 with a possible draw.
67. ... Qh4+ 68. Ke2 Qh2+ 69. Kd3 f5 70. Rxb4 Qd2+ 71. Kc4 Qc2+ 72. Kd5 Nf6+ 73. Kd6 g4 74. Rc4 Qe2 75. Rc6 Kg5 76. Kc5 Ne4+ 77. Kb4 Qe1+!? Much simpler was to exchange Queens (77. ... Qd2+).
78. Kc4 Kf4 79. Kd5 Qa5+ 80. Ke6 Qa2+ 81. Rc4 Qa6+ 82. Ke7 Qa3+ 83. Ke6 Qa6+ 84. Ke7 Qb7+? Once again, she throws away the win that can be achieved by advancing the g-Pawn (84. ... g3).
85. Ke6 Kg5 86. Qd8+ Kf4 87. Qd2+ Kf3 88. Qd3+ Kf4 89. Qf1+ Kg3 90. Qe1+ Kh3? The game takes a dramatic turn. Black had now to content herself with 90. ... Kf3 91. Rc3+!! Kg2 (91. ... Nxc3? 92. Qh1+ transposes to the game) 92. Rc2+ Kf3 93. Rc3+ leaving her opponent no more than a draw by perpetual check.
91. Qh1+ Kg3
92. Rc3+ Nxc3. Both 92. ... Kf4 92. Qc1+ and 92. ... Kf2 93. Qh2+ end in checkmate.
93. Qxb7 f4 94. Qb3 f3 95. Qxc3 Kg2 96. Kf5 f2 97. Qd2 Kf3 98. Qd1+!? Not a true mistake, but the most exact move was 98. Qd5+! Ke2 (if 98. ... Kg3 then 99. Qh1+−) 99. Qe4+ Kd2 100. Qf4+ Ke1 101. Qe3+ Kf1 102. Kxg4 Kg2 103. Qe2 Kg1 104. Kg3 f1=N+ 105. Kh3 with mate in two moves.
98. ... Kg2
93. Qxb7 f4 94. Qb3 f3 95. Qxc3 Kg2 96. Kf5 f2 97. Qd2 Kf3 98. Qd1+!? Not a true mistake, but the most exact move was 98. Qd5+! Ke2 (if 98. ... Kg3 then 99. Qh1+−) 99. Qe4+ Kd2 100. Qf4+ Ke1 101. Qe3+ Kf1 102. Kxg4 Kg2 103. Qe2 Kg1 104. Kg3 f1=N+ 105. Kh3 with mate in two moves.
98. ... Kg2
99. Qxg4+?? But White falls deep into a basic “book” draw. The winning line was 99. Qd2! Kf3 (or 99. ... Kg1 100. Kxg4! f1=Q 101. Kg3! with mate in three moves) 100. Qd5+! transposing to the variation above.
99. ... Kh2 100. Qf4+ Kg1 101. Qd4 Kh1 102. Qd1+ Kg2 103. Qc2 Kh1 104. Qc6+ Kg1 105. Qb6 Kh1 106. Qb7+ Kg1 107. Qg7+ Kh1 108. Qb7+ Kg1 109. Qb6 Kh1 110. Qxf2 ½–½. Draw by stalemate.
99. ... Kh2 100. Qf4+ Kg1 101. Qd4 Kh1 102. Qd1+ Kg2 103. Qc2 Kh1 104. Qc6+ Kg1 105. Qb6 Kh1 106. Qb7+ Kg1 107. Qg7+ Kh1 108. Qb7+ Kg1 109. Qb6 Kh1 110. Qxf2 ½–½. Draw by stalemate.
Today’s hard-fought draw stopped almost unbroken string of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s victories. Photo: 中国体育报 (China Sports Daily). |
Thursday, October 2, 2025
The Eighth Arrow
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 高木子嫣 (Gāo Mùzǐyān)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–江苏队 (Jiāngsū 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; 北京 (Běijīng), October 2, 2025
Sicilian Defence B31
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. d3 e5 6. a3 Nge7 7. b4 cxb4 8. axb4 0-0 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Nbd2 f5 12. Nc4 d6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Nxc8 Nxc8 15. Bd2 h6 16.c4 Qf7 17. Qe2 Re8 18. Ra6 Rb6 19. Ra5 Rb7 20. Rc1 Kh7 21. h3 Ree7 22. Bc3 Nb6 23. c5 dxc5 24. Rxc5 Na4 25. Rc4 Nxc3 26. R1xc3 Red7 27. exf5 Qxf5 28. Nh4 Qf6 29. Qe4 Rd6 30. Rc2 Rb6 31. Re2 Rd4 32. Rxd4 exd4 33. g3 Rxb4 34. Qe8 Rb1+ 35. Kg2 Rb7 36. Nf3 Rf7 37. Ne5 Rc7? Too greedy. Black had to give back the Pawn by 37. ... Rf8! 38. Qxc6 a5 with a possible defence.
38. Nd7! Qf5 39. Re7! With the deadly threat of Nd7-f8+ which forces Black’s next move.
39. ... Rxd7 40. Rxd7 Qf6 41. Rxa7 h5 (41. ... c5 42. Rc7+−)
42. h4 Kh6 43. Rc7 c5 44. Rxc5 Qd6 45. Rc6 Qd5+ 46. Qe4 1–0.
39. ... Rxd7 40. Rxd7 Qf6 41. Rxa7 h5 (41. ... c5 42. Rc7+−)
42. h4 Kh6 43. Rc7 c5 44. Rxc5 Qd6 45. Rc6 Qd5+ 46. Qe4 1–0.
Another arrow was fired: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) scored 8–0 so far. Photo: Sina Sports. |
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Back in the City
李若凡 (Lǐ Ruòfán) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 北京队 (Běijīng 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; 北京 (Běijīng), October 1, 2025
English Opening A13
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 Bxc3 6. bxc3 f5 7. a4 Nc6! 8. 0-0 Na5 9. d3 Nf6 10. Nd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 0-0 12. Nb3 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 a5 14. Bg5 Qe8 15. Qb5 Nh5! 16. c5
16. ... f4! 17. g4 h6 18. cxb6 hxg5 19. gxh5 Rf5 20. Qb2? (20. Qc4 cxb6 21. f3 Qxh5⩱)
20. ... cxb6? (20. ... f3+! 21. exf3 Qxh5−+)
21. e4? (21. f3! Qxh5⩱)
21. ... f3+ 22. Kh1 Rf4 23. Rg1 Qxh5 24. Qb5 Rh4 25. Qe5
20. ... cxb6? (20. ... f3+! 21. exf3 Qxh5−+)
21. e4? (21. f3! Qxh5⩱)
21. ... f3+ 22. Kh1 Rf4 23. Rg1 Qxh5 24. Qb5 Rh4 25. Qe5
25. ... d6! 26. Qxd6 (26. Qg3 Rf8−+)
26. ... Rf8 27. Qxe6+ (27. Qg3 Rf6−+)
27. ... Kh7 28. Qe5 Rff4 0–1.
26. ... Rf8 27. Qxe6+ (27. Qg3 Rf6−+)
27. ... Kh7 28. Qe5 Rff4 0–1.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) appeared in great shape for the seventh round of 2025 Chinese Chess League at 北京阳光国际会议中心 (Běijīng International Convention Centre) on October 1. Photo: 璐璐 (Lùlù). |
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