Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (standing, left) and Conference Director John Foley (seated, right) gaily laughing in the backstage of the 6th London Chess Conference, which took place on the weekend of 8-9 December 2018 at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom. Photo: londonchessconference.com.
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Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), on occasion of her informal lecture at 深圳书城 (Shēnzhèn Book City) in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China on Sunday, December 23, 2018, advised her younger audience to give always priority to scholastic studies rather than to chess, bringing her own experience as a lucky example. She encountered her first “conflict” at eighteen years, particularly when most chess officials besieged her to make her recede from her intention to enter the Peking University, which could have eclipsed her professional career as a player. “I have always had a clear idea in my heart. That is, no matter how far I go in chess, I don’t want my future life to be only chess. That’s an indispensable part of my life, but nevertheless, I still hope that my studies will offer me new experiences and perspectives in other fields as well, so as to make my life more colourful”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. Photo: szlg.com.
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As previously announced, on the afternoon of Sunday, December 23, 2018 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) walked up the staircase to the fourth floor of 深圳书城 (Shēnzhèn Book City) in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China to entertain a crowd of youngsters and families with the tale of her extraordinary chess carreer. After summing up the highlights of her bio, without hiding any of the difficulties which she encountered along the way, 13th Women’s World Chess Champion graciously answered questions and offered suggestions on a variety of matters related to priority of study. “Children must never interrupt their scholastic studies, no matter how much they are interested in chess”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. According to her, chess, if teached as an interlude, is not in conflict with scholastic study protocols, and yet it may serve to help the psychological growth of students. “I suggest that third and fourth graders must first focus on their scholastic studies. They can study chess during the summer and winter holidays, and eventually squeeze out some time on weekends to study and play a little”, she said. Once again 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vindicated her preference for the Pawn — the weakest of all chessmen — that is often sacrificed in the name of success, but which carries in itself its own gift of reborning to anything but King and itself once it reaches its eighth square. Finally, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s last recommendation to her young audience was not to be afraid of losing, as learning — even from defeats — is the best way to win. Photos: sznews.com.
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In the afternoon of Saturday, December 22, 2018 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) held a class for young students at the 龙岗区青少年活动中心 (Lónggǎng District Youth Activity Centre) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China. She first analysed some of her games, focusing particularly on one of her games from her match against Nigel David Short in 2016. She then dispensed her guidelines and advice, such as not to study opening moves by heart, but rather understand and master the geometry of the board. And finally, the most important advice of all: “Interest is the most important thing, so any training method should not be as excessive as to demotivate students. It’s not a mere matter of how many study hours are required. Everyone must find his own measure”. Photos: sznews.com.
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Early in the afternoon of December 12, 2018 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) graced with her presence the 宝安小学 (Bǎo’ān Primary School) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China where she performed a lecture interspersed with a spectacular simultaneous exhibition against 45 young students. Thus she shared with them her own memories and experiences as a young chess star: “The first time I took part in a world class competition I was nine years old, almost the same age as my opponents, who were coming from all the world. I was then more inclined to adopt a learning attitude rather than aiming for specific goals”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. “That experience taught me that everyone’s level is very close. So what is needed in any competition is to play as best as possible, and in such a way both the theoretical preparation and the balance of the physical and psychological state are very important. Just make plans but never follow them too dogmatically, never lose sight and sense of concrete contingency”. No wonder that, after such a shining of vintage “Soviet School of Chess”, 13th Women’s World Chess Champion made a passionate declaration of love to the Pawn, though not (only) because — as Philidor said — it “is the soul of chess”, but rather, for its impossibility to step back. “The extraordinary thing is that a Pawn can’t move backward. It can move only forward, never backward, which means that every Pawn move must be carefully thought out”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. All photos: sports.sina.cn.
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On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 16,00 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will climb the stairway to the fourth floor of 深圳书城 (Shēnzhèn Book City) — the “Forbidden City” of books — in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China where, for the sake of a young audience, she will conduct a lecture (plus Q&A) on how to learn and study chess, face competitions and challenges, and handle diplomatic relationships in time and space with media and fans.
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The newly opened 深圳书城 (Shēnzhèn Book City) in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District) covers an area of about 11,000 square meters, with a commercial area of about 8,500 square meters. Rendering: shenzhen.sina.com.cn.
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Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) took an interlude from her Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Oxford in order to fly back to her homeland and bring her experiences into a Chinese classroom. Thus in the afternoon of December 13, 2018 13th Women’s World Chess Champion, rigorously dressed in the school ceremony clothes, took the stage of 星河 (Xīnghé) Experimental Primary School in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China to perform a choreographic 50-board simultaneous exhibition with young students, eventually followed by a friendly Q&A. Photos: sznews.com.
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Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (standing, left) laughing at something or someone from above, while Conference Director John Foley (seated, centre) and Lord Mark Price (seated, right) keep the photographer at a distance in the backstage of the 6th London Chess Conference, which took place on the weekend of 8-9 December at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom. Photo: London Chess Conference (@LondonChessConf).
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Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), pictured above (centre) amidst French teacher Boris Raguet (left) and French Chess Federation President Bachar Kouatly (right) attending as a guest of honour the inauguration of the 6th London Chess Conference on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom. Photo: Fédération Française des Échecs (@ffechecs).
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A new children’s book, published by China Commerce and Trade Press, is about to come out: 《少儿基础国际象棋》 (“Basic Chess for Kids”), authored by national chess Master and international referee 肖红 (Xiào Hóng), and prefaced by four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and women’s world number one 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above, without glasses). The book, colourfully cartoon illustrated and particularly designed for the first and second grades of elementary school, is divided in two volumes, from first basics to the early practice.
In her brief preface 13th Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) observed, with a light note of regret, that there had been such colourful and bright books during her childhood, she would more easily have made friends interested in chess. Photos: sohu.com. |
But only one dazzling new fashion star took over the stage of the grand opening of the “和平·万科杯” (“Peace Vanke Cup”) National Schools Chess Championship in 沈阳 (Shěnyáng), 辽宁省 (Liáoníng province), China on Monday, July 23, 2018. And thus, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), starring as a fatal “dark lady”, blessed everyone with her radiant light, polyhedral personality, and merciful heart. It may be not superfluous to remark that 336 youngsters from all over the country took part in the championship. Photo: OSports Photo Agency.
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Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), two-time Women’s World Chess Champion 谢军 (Xiè Jūn), and the Vice President of the Chinese Chess Association Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) attended as institutional representatives the inaugural day of the “和平·万科杯” (“Peace Vanke Cup”) National Schools Chess Championship in 沈阳 (Shěnyáng), 辽宁省 (Liáoníng province), China on Monday, July 23, 2018. 13th Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), on her part, being not oblivious to her own role as inspiring muse, deliberately chose to pose as Queen regent in public, looking even more breathtaking than usual in her elegant and revealing midnight black evening dress (Grand Prix summer collection). No wonder that when beauty conquers, sports details may even fade away. Photos: Visual China Group.
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Far from fading into 北京 (Běijīng)’s fog, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán, duly escorted by the Vice President of the Chinese Chess Association Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān), delivered a friendly lecture and Q&A to the young students of 沈阳铁路第三小学 (Shěnyáng Railway No. 3 Elementary School) in 沈阳 (Shěnyáng), 辽宁省 (Liáoníng province), China on Sunday, July 22, 2018. As usual 13th Women’s World Chess Champion looked breathtakingly elegant in her sleeveless black white skater dress (《非凡的小兵》 summer collection) and black sneakers, but the school staff succeeded in making her look even more unique, wrapping a silken red scarf around her swan neck. The final chess simultaneous exhibition, performed in tandem with her cavalryman, was a triumph of fashion and friendship, for the joy of children and teachers. Photos: Visual China Group.
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FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, after a yesterday’s meeting with Saint Petersburg Governor Georgy Sergeyevich Poltavchenko, has announced that one of the stages of the new series of World Chess Federation’s Grand Prix will be held at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (former Leningrad), Russia, most likely in summer of next year.
The Director of the Hermitage Museum Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky is planning to organize, in concomitance with the Grand Prix, a themed exhibition on the subject of chess to be held at the Hermitage, which will host contributions coming from different Russian fine art’s depositories such as the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, and so on. It was finally agreed that in the near future Saint Petersburg will join and start the World Chess Federation’s educational programme “Chess in Schools”, which should involve about 800 schools in town. |
From left: FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov and Saint Petersburg Vice Governor Igor Nikolayevich Albin carrying out new football stadium visit in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo: Elista.org.
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