The Aura

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Padmini Rout

10th World Women’s Team Chess Championship; Pool Stage B; China vs. India; time control: 45 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Linares, November 19, 2025

Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Nf1 a6 8.Bg5 0-0 9. h4 b5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Bd5 Bd7 12. Ne3 Ra7 13. a4 bxa4 14. Nxa4 Nb4 15. Bc4 Be6 16. Nc3 Qb8 17. b3 Bd8 18. g3 Kh8 19. Ncd5 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Nxd5 f5 22. Qe2 f4? (⌓ 22. ... Qc8!)

23. Qf3!± a5 24. Ra4 Raf7 25. g4 g6 26. g5 Qc8 27. Ke2 h6 28. h5! Bxg5 29. hxg6 Rg7 30. Rg1 Qd8 31. Qh5 f3+ 32. Kd1 Ra7 33. Rg3 Kg7 34. Ra1 Rb7 35. Rxf3 Rxf3 36. Qxf3 Kxg6 37. Ke2 Rf7 38. Qg4 Kh7 39. Rh1 Rg7 40. Qf5+ Kg8 41. Qe6+ Kh7 42. Rh3 Rg6 43. Qf7+ Rg7 44. Qf5+ Rg6? A Pavlovian automatism, which loses right off. She should have moved her King to g8.

45. Rg3!⊙ Kg7 46. f4! exf4 47. Nxf4 Rf6 48. Nh5+ Kf7 49. Nxf6 Qxf6 50. Qd7+ Qe7 51. Rf3+ Kg7 52. Qxe7+ Bxe7 53. Rg3+ Kf7 54. Kf3 h5 55. Kf4 h4 56. Rg1 Bf6 57. Kf5 Be5 58. Rh1 Bf6 59. Rf1 Be5 60. Kg5+ Ke6 61. Kxh4 d5 62. Re1 1–0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made her début on the grand stage at the 10th World Women’s Team Chess Championship. Photo: Raúl Martínez.