Cycles and recycles

Her Majesty 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) today handed over the stage to her young heirs, who proved her trust to be well founded.

Liya Kurmangaliyeva – 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí)

10th World Women’s Team Chess Championship; Playoff | Small Final & Final; Match 2; China vs. Kazakhstan; time control: 45 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Linares, November 23, 2025

6k1/5p2/4pP2/3br2P/pb3Bp1/3B2P1/1P6/2K4R b - - 7 54

Position after 54. Bh6-f4

54. ... a3! A little bit trickier move order than 54. ... Bxh1 55. Bxe5 a3 with somewhat similar outcomes.
55. Bxe5 a2 56. b3 Ba3+ 57. Kc2 Bxh1 58. h6? A useless illusion as the Pawn will go nowhere. Salvation was within reach by 58. b4! (intending Kc2-b3) 58. ... Bxb4 59. Kb2 with a draw in view.

58. ... Bd6! 59. h7+ Kh8 60. Bd4 Bxg3 61. b4. Also after 61. Kb2 Bd6 62. Kxa2 g3 the ending is hopeless for White (63. Bg6? e5−+).
61. ... Bf2 62. Ba1 (62. Be5 g3 63. Kb2 Bd5−+)
62. ... g3 63. Bf1 g2 64. Bxg2 Bxg2 0–1.

Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno. Photo: Pavel Arkadievich Dvorkovich.