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.

Another arrow was fired: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) scored 8–0 so far. Photo: Sina Sports.