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.