Ab Imperio

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina

10th World Women’s Team Chess Championship; Playoff | Semifinals; Match 1; China vs. FIDE; time control: 45 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Linares, November 22, 2025

Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. h3 a5 8. Bb3 h6 9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Ba4 Rb8 12. Nf1 b5 13. Bc2 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Bd2 Qd6 17. Qc1 Bd7 18. Nh4 Nd5 19. Qd1 Qf6 20. Nf3 g5

21. d4 exd4 22. Nh5 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qd6 24. Qe4 Nf6 25. Nxf6+ Qxf6 26. h4 Qg6 27. Qxg6+ fxg6 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Bxg5 Kg7 30. Rd1 Re8 31. cxd4 Bg4 32. Be3 Bxf3 33. gxf3 Rd8 34. d5 Bxe3 35. fxe3 Nb4 36. Be4 Nxa2 37. Kf2 Nb4 38. Rc1 Nxd5 39. Rc5 c6 40. Rxc6 Nf6 41. Rc7+ Kh6 42. Bc2 Rd2+ 43. Ke1 Rg2 44. Kf1 Rd2 45. Ke1 Rg2 46. Kf1 Rh2 47. Rc6 Kg7 48. Rc7+ Kh6 49. Rc6 Kg7 50. Rc7+ Kh6 51. Rc6 ½–½.

The first match between the two Eurasian stars resulted in a hard-fought draw. Photos: Raúl Martínez.