One & Two

No, Edna, ain’t no sense in skipping dessert just when you can eat all you can

Artwork © non poppins for PIXAR (@nonpop_pixar)

Saturday Night Fever

The celebration of 21st Asian Chess Championship included a gala dinner in honour of a queen who does not fear comparison with the goddess Caïssa. Pictured from left to right are: Deputy Vice President of Mongolian Chess Federation Khurelbaatar Batchuluun, actress and director Undarmaa Gonchig, Woman Grandmaster Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul, General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al Taher, and four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 30, 2026. Photo: Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul.

Queen of Borjigin

Four-time Women’s Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) poses for a souvenir picture with Kharuul Kharuul, a teacher and aide of Govisümber’s “Kings of Borjigin” chess club, against the background of Round 3 of 21st Asian Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026. Photo: Page Newspaper.

Keeping Cool

Monkeys cool off in a pool at a zoo in 郑州 (Zhèngzhōu), China, after high temperatures led authorities to issue an orange alert, in 河南省 (Hénán province). Photo: 马健 (Mǎ Jiàn)/VCG/Getty Images.

On Wings of Pegasus

Less than two weeks are left before the queen and king of chess, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Magnus Carlsen, make their grand debut at 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, on June 16–22, 2026. Playbill: 香港棋藝青訓學院 (Hong Kong Chess Academy).

Minister Without Portfolio

I never read about German-born Argentinian chess Grandmaster Hermann Pilnik serving as Ministro de Salud de Chile (nor is he apparently enlisted as such), except in a book by Larry Evans, Jeremy Silman, and Betty Roberts, entitled How to Get Better at Chess. Chess Masters on Their Art (Summit Books, New York, 1991, p. 200):

Pilnik emigrated from Germany to Argentina in 1930, where he lived about forty years, followed by a ten year sojourn in Chile as Minister of Health. He then went to Venezuela, where he wrote a newspaper column, taught chess and was a professor at the Military Academy.

Further information required.

Idyll of the White Lotus

Pictured standing, from left, are General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al Taher, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Mongolia 沈敏娟 (Shěn Mǐnjuān), four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and President of Mongolian Chess Federation Gombojavyn Zandanshatar officiating the kick-off ceremonies for Round 3 of 21st Asian Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026. Photos: 中华人民共和国驻蒙古国大使馆 (Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mongolia).

Well, Edna, it is like Jupiter gave a ride to a Venus that looked like you

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

Candyfloss

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) as special guest commentator in Round 3 of 21st Asian Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026, 2026.Photos: Asian Chess Federation.

課後 (After School)

Pro Counter-Strike player and FIDE chess Master Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren takes lessons and advice from four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2026. Photo: The MongolZ.

Queen of Gobi Desert

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and President of Mongolian Chess Federation Gombojavyn Zandanshatar as guests at the livestream of 21st Asian Chess Championship which is currently underway in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from May 28 to June 7, 2026.

Sketches of Sunday

Trees and fairies in Piazza della Costituzione at San Donnino, Campi Bisenzio, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy.

Lifestyles

Lost & Found

Il balen del suo sorriso d’una stella vince il raggio! Il fulgor del suo bel viso nuovo infonde a me coraggio! The flash of her smile outdoes the beam from a star! The brightness of her beautiful face inspires me with fresh daring! 她的微笑光辉照耀 胜过星辰的光芒！ 她的美貌散发的光芒 赋予了我新的勇气！ Il trovatore (II, 3)

Imaginary Conversations

Friend zone

Jammin’

Round the Moon

Leone, Niccolò, and Riccardo play chess at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” almost every Saturday afternoon.

A Train to Catch

When the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” students miss a chess class it is usually because they are otherwise engaged in important duties, and indeed they always have a very confiderable justification for their absences. The picture on the side, taken at sunset of Saturday, May 9, 2026, was of Niccolò (standing, in red shirt), Riccardo (seated, in blue shirt), and their teammates of the Liceo scientifico statale Antonio Gramsci waiting for the train home at Cesenatico station, on their way back from the 30th Olympiads of Mathematics National Finals, where they reached the semifinals.
They said they are quite content with what they got, which might have been even greater if they had only been just a little more lucky. But more importantly they will keep in their heart forever their Olympic adventure and the youthful feeling of causeless joy and pride in “passing through the crowd with the crowd that was passing through”. Photo courtesy of Niccolò.

Chinese Shadows

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is announced on stage at 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, from June 17–21, 2026. Photocollage: FIDE.

Yet, Edna, everyone who is not a villain in such a holy community is a hero

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

Through the Kaleidoscope

Just time for a coffee at service area Titignano Nord on the freeway Florence-Pisa-Livorno. Maria’s orchids are as wonderful as in a botanic garden with the sun shining on it.

Mindworlds

That’s the key, Edna; three tiramisus a day keep hunger away!

Courtesy of TurnIntoAI

Queen’s breakfast

One Day with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in 香港 (Hong Kong)

Oh yes, Edna, they never admit ignorance as an inspiration for their pedantry

Artwork © Imagination Color Lab LLC (@imagination_color_lab)

Meanings of Life

• Nicole, “Chinese Chess Queen 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): Splendour and Majesty on the Board”, Sportsoho, May 12, 2026

“I’ve always felt that chess is my passion, but not all my life. First and foremost, I am a person, and then a chess player. No matter what I get or don’t get — higher education is essential in life”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said.

All the Water on Earth

After all, Edna, no one is perfect, and to say it with Dylan, “You can’t be wise and in love at the same time”

Artwork © grim1978

A Queen on Stage

Saturdays in May

While ⅔ of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” chess students were in Cesenatico, Italy, to defend the colours of the Liceo scientifico statale Antonio Gramsci in the 30th edition of the Olympiads of Mathematics National Finals, Leone, a young prodigy violinist who astonished audiences everywhere by his wonderful playing, seemed glad that he did not miss his class today.

X – Y
Florence, May 9, 2026
r2q1k1r/ppp3p1/5b1p/3N3B/4P3/4B3/PPP3PP/R4QK1 b - - 0 16

Position after 16. ... c7-c6

In the position of diagram, White intended 17. Bc5+ Kg8 18. Nf4, which would undoubtedly win the day, but Leone was as proud as happy to “spot” a most delightful finish:
17. Bc5+ Kg8 18. Ne7+! 1–0. Black must choose between losing his Queen (18. ... Qxe7 19. Bxe7) or getting mated or both: 18. ... Kf8 (18. ... Bxe7 19. Qf7+ Kh7 20. Bg6#) 19. Qc4! g6 20. Qe6! with mate in a few moves to follow.

Love Is in the Air

Chungking Express

A Myanmar Miscellany

President of Myanmar Chess Federation, Maung Maung Lwin, poses for a souvenir picture with three Women’s World Chess Champions, from left to right: 谢军 (Xiè Jūn), 诸宸 (Zhū Chén), and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), against the background of the Asian Chess Leaders’ Summit in Singapore, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Photo: Maung Maung Lwin.

The Islands and the Sea

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) poses for a souvenir picture with Simon Chottu, President of the Solomon Islands Chess Federation, in the backstage of the Asian Chess Leaders’ Summit in Singapore, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Photo: SBM Online.

And yet, Edna, as a cynic would put it, the only thing one can save of such ceremonies and rituals is the giant cream cake

Artwork © Felipe Oliveira (@mrillustrated)

An Asian Arcady

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was one of the speakers at the Asian Chess Leaders’ Summit in Singapore, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Her vibrant speech was centred on the panel discussion: “Women in Chess — the Asian Story”.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), dressed in dark red with a white jacket, is standing on first row, fourth from right. Photo: Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein.

The King Hunt

• 张晰纯 (Stephy Zhāng), “China’s 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) a world chess champion who changes the rules and pushes the boundaries”, South China Morning Post, May 2, 2026

Resisting rigid career templates, four-time women’s world chess champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) balances a spontaneous lifestyle with clear-eyed purpose — from helping drive women’s competition reforms to her PhD research into the cognitive benefits of her game. [Read more].

“I won’t let my life be only about chess”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. Photo: Edmond So/South China Morning Post.

In Vogue

You know, Edna, your every wish is my command

Artwork © RarityMyLove

To Awaken Pegasus

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), a queen and her magic hippogriff. Photo: 動力國際體育公關公司/中國香港國際象棋總會 (ActionHouse International/Hong Kong Chess Federation) via We Sport Images.

Pearl of the Orient

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) attended a press conference held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, by the Organising Committee of the 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship, which will take place in Fragrant Harbour (Hong Kong), from June 17–21, 2026.

The queen of chess, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), elegantly dressed in black, greeted and blessed 香港 (Hong Kong), at its debut as a global chessboard: “It is not only a mere gathering of beautiful minds, but more importantly, it will raise chess to new heights of showmanship in Greater China, allowing more people to feel the charm and incantation of the noble game”. Photos: 杨功煜 (Yáng Gōngyù).

The Music of the Ocean

Chinese Glazes

A visitor takes close look at a 琺瑯彩 (fàlángcǎi) teapot during the media preview of Sotheby’s Hong Kong 2026 Asian Art Week in 香港 (Hong Kong), China. Photo: China News Service/Getty Images.

Five Nights in Chungking Mansions

WR Chess announces the “team” for the 4th FIDE World Rapid Team Championship and 3rd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship scheduled in 香港 (Hong Kong), China, from June 17–21, 2026. They are namely (in alphabetical order): Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko, Jan Gustafsson (captain), 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein, Wesley So, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

Tulips and Irises

Spring tulips blooming at 中山公园 (Zhōngshān Park) in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images.

Well, Edna, as Stefan Zweig said, “for chess, like love, one needs a partner”

Artwork © Raegan (@raegan.sketches)