文件系统的对比 (Comparison of file systems)

Apparently instead China is betting on chess matches now and next, announcing the presence on stage of both their two crowned “Wonder Women”: 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno will play a two-game rapid match in the capital, 北京 (Běijīng) from February 10–12, while four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will pick up the gauntlet of a world top player in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) later this year. Further details about dates and names will follow as soon as more is known.

Chess, 2013 / Courtesy of Lorna Simpson, Salon 94, New York, and Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris and Brussels / © Lorna Simpson.

In Infinity

On Sunday, April 9, 2017, after (or before) the “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match award ceremony, the organising delegation – including 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – accompanied Vassily Mykhaylovych “Chucky” Ivanchuk on a short visit to 深圳 (Shēnzhèn)’s 大芬美术馆 (Dàfēn Art Museum), the ¥100,000,000 元 (yuán) 16,000 square meters oil painting village, where thousands of artists produce up to 60 per cent of the total global volume of reproduction artworks. Maybe it is true that “There’s always something authentic concealed in every forgery”, but, if I must just quote someone, I’d say it with Dylan: “Inside the museums, infinity goes up on trial / Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while / But Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues / You can tell by the way she smiles”. All photos: cca.imsa.cn.

Chimes at Midnight

And finally, the “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match award ceremony took place today in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China just before another Midnight chime. The Queen, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) from China, was given spring flowers and gold, while the King, Vassily Mykhaylovych “Chucky” Ivanchuk from Ukraine, cashed in dollars for gold. The feast was attended by most city authorities and officiated by the almighty Chinese Chess Association (CCA)’s Secretary-General 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān). All photos: sports.sohu.com.

Wondering and Wandering

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk

“尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match; match game 4; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), April 8, 2017

Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. 0-0 d6 6. c3 0-0 7. a4 a5 8. Bg5 Ne7!? A novelty – at least formally. 9. Nh4. Seeking desperately for a quick initiative, but Ivanchuk’s strong and thematic rejoinder is not a welcome sign: 9. ... d5! 10. Bb3. 10. exd5 followed by Nb1-d2 seems much sounder. 10. ... dxe4 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nd2 Ng6 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Nxg6 hxg6. Black stands better already, thanks to the Bishop pair and the initiative. Now White must worry about ... f7-f5. 15. Qd2. Dazzled by the shimmering “oasis” of a mirage... 15. ... f5 16. Qh6? She kindly asked for mercy offering her Knight: 16 ... fxe4 17. Qxg6+ and draw by perpetual check.

16. ... Ra6! But the merciless Chucky did not resist the temptation to catch the Queen’s eye. If now Knight moves then would follow ... Be7-g5. Now there’s nothing White can do but resign. 17. f4 fxe4 18. dxe4 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Be3 20. Rad1 Qe7 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk
Photo: qipai.people.com.cn

Another Night, Another Day

After the third game of the “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match underway in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China Vassily Mykhaylovych “Chucky” Ivanchuk is leading 2 to 1, so four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will have to play all out tomorrow in order to equalise the score and reach the tie-break. And she, indeed, promises a radical change of strategy: “I am behind. If I do not win tomorrow’s game, then it’s all over, there will be no other days”, she told reporters. “So, tomorrow, I will have to put up a fight to the very end, and I’m gonna do it”.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: qipai.people.com.cn

There and Back

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) did not lose her good mood after her unfortunate defeat in the second game of the “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match underway in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China. “After a quiet opening, my opponent played a very interesting Exchange sacrifice in the early middlegame in order to not give White time to consolidate”, she told reporters. “Due to my Pawn weaknesses and a little lack of harmony in the position, Black may have some compensation”. Both players agreed that the decisive tactical mistake occurred at move 37, when the White Queen captured the Black e-Pawn. Had White taken the Knight with the Rook, the game would have continued with unclear chances for both colours. Tomorrow is another day.

And Chucky almost begged pardon for having so mercilessly taken advantage of the Queen’s wandering gaze. All photos: kaixian.tv.

Four Days, Five Nights

Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

“尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match; match game 1; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), April 5, 2017

Scotch Game C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nd2. This used to be Savielly Tartakower’s favourite, and, just to say it with him, “As long as an opening is reputed to be weak it can be played”. 6. ... d5 7. exd5 cxd5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. 0-0 Be7 11. b3 0-0 12. Bb2 Qf5. If 12. ... Rfe8 there might follow 13. Qf3 Ng4 14. h3 Bf6 15. hxg4 Bxb2 16. Rad1 c6 17. c3 Qe7 18. Nb1 a5 19. Rd2 Ba3 20. Nxa3 Qxa3 21. Rfd1 ½ : ½ Volokitin – Efimenko, 82nd Ukrainian Championship, Kiev 2013. 13. Nf3 Rfe8. Black finally disconnects herself from the theoretical matrix set by her opponent: 13. ... Ne4 14. Qd3 Rfe8 15. Rad1 Rad8 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. f3 Nd6 18. Ne2 Nf5 19. Rfe1 Bh4 20. g3 Re3 21. Qd2 Be7 22. Nd4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bc5 24. Kg2 Nxd4 25. Bxd4 Bb6? (now it’s easy to say that Black should have played 25. ... Bf8! with a perfectly tenable game) 26. Bxg7! Kxg7 27. Qg5+ Kf8 28. Qf6 Bd4 29. Qxd4 Kg8 30. Qh4 Re8 31. Qg4+ 1 : 0 Tartakower – G. Wood, 22nd Hastings International Chess Congress, Hastings 1946/1947. 14. Qd3. More than one kibitzer praised here Ivanchuk’s fighting spirit with gentle irony, but, objectively speaking, this is quite consistent with the unambitious character of the opening line chosen. The alternative 14. Nd4 Qd7 15. Qd3 Ne4 would have led to a balanced play, quite similarly to the aforementioned game Tartakower – G. Wood. 14. ... Qxd3 15. cxd3 Nd7 16. Rac1 Nc5 17. Rfd1 Ne6 18. g3. Ivanchuk thought a very long time about his last four moves, but didn’t succeed in getting any remarkable advantage. 18. ... Rec8 19. Rc6

19. ... a5! Black has equalised completely, and the game ends in a draw very quickly. 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 a4 22. Rdc1 Ba3 23. R1c2 axb3 24. axb3 Rab8 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 26. Rxc7 h6 27. Rd7 Rxb3 28. Rxd5 Rxd3 29. Ra5 Rxd4 30. Rxa3 h5 ½ : ½.

Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: sports.sohu.com

Cat Home Alone

All is ready for the start of the four game “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China except for the fact that there is still no track of Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk... but these are, of course, idle thoughts. The first game tomorrow, April 5 (incidentally, also Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov’s birthday). Photo: ilonggang.sznews.com.

The Cup-Bearers

In a press conference held today on the 4th floor conference hall of the five-star 友和国际大酒店 (Friends International Hotel) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), Chinese Chess Association (CCA)’s Secretary-General 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) introduced the four game “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match between the four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and the current World Rapid Chess Champion Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk, to be held from 5 to 9 April 2017. The meeting was attended by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) herself and most city authorities, but, as usual happens in such circumstances, produced no interesting remark in regard to the actual chess debate. Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an addition of 30 seconds per move.

The official presentation of the “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match took place at 友和国际大酒店 (Friends International Hotel) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), China on April 3, 2017. Photo: cca.imsa.cn

The Royal Summit

From 5 to 9 April 2017 in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will take on Ukrainian Grandmaster and current World Rapid Chess Champion Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk in the four game “Chess King and Queen Summit Match”, organised by the Chinese Chess Association and 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District) People’s Government of 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Municipality. Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an addition of 30 seconds per move. The prize money for the winner is $18,000 dollars, while the loser will be content with $12,000 dollars. Taxes excluded.

深圳龙岗区 (Shēnzhèn Lónggǎng District) City Hall Square
Photo: citylife.house.sina.com.cn

Nick of Time

Michael Adams – Pentala Harikrishna

"读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), March 24, 2017

6k1/3q1p2/1p6/p1p1P1p1/P1Qn4/4K1P1/BP5P/8 w - - 0 36

Position after 35. ... h6xg5

The White e-Pawn is isolated and weak, but nevertheless White should somehow be able to hold his own after, let’s say, 36. Qd5 Qf5 37. Bc4 (Stockfish). 36. Qf1?? I cannot but guess Adams was in terrific time trouble for explaining such a miscalculation. He was perhaps envisioning something like Qf1-f6, but Black’s rejoinder strucks him down: 36. ... Nc6! 37. Qd3. Since after 37. e6 Qd4+ 38. Kf3 Qxa4! Black seems to be able to victoriously handle all turbulences, Adams decides to try his luck by giving up his Bishop, in the vain hope that his a-Pawn may have a future (as Queen) – but it will never happen. 37. ... Qxd3+ 38. Kxd3 Nb4+ 39. Kc4 Nxa2 40. Kb5 Nb4 41. Kxb6 Nd3. Black’s task appears to be quite easy. 42. Kxa5. Equally hopeless is 42. b3 Nxe5 followed by ... f7-f5-f4. 42. ... Nxb2 43. h4 gxh4 44. gxh4 Kg7 45. h5 Kh6 46. Kb5 c4 47. Kb4 c3 48. Kxc3 Nxa4+ 49. Kd4 Kxh5 50. Kd5 Nb6+ 51. Kc6 Kg5 0 : 1. For after 52. Kd6 Nc4+ 53. Kd5 Nxe5 54. Kxe5 f5 Black’s f-Pawn will queen.

Pentala Harikrishna
Photo: cca.imsa.cn

Too Little, Too Much, Just Right

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)

"读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), March 23, 2017

4k3/1p2ppbp/p5p1/2n5/5P2/P3PN2/1P3P1P/3N1K2 w - - 0 31

Position after 30. ... Ne6xc5

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) played a bit too passively, and 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) took his chance to question his own volatile initiative: 31. Ke2 Kd7! 32. Ng5 f6 33. Nf3. Of course, after 33. Nxh7 Ke6 the White Knight would end up being trapped in its corner grave. Curiously enough, within a few moves, the Black Knight will be faced by the same dilemma – but under more favourable conditions. 33. ... f5 34. b4 Ne4 35. Kd3 Bf6 36. a4 Kd6 37. Nd4 Bxd4 38. Kxd4 Nd2 39. Kd3! On the verge of serious trouble, 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) defends with inspired precision. 39. ... Nf3 40. Ke2 Nxh2! The only practical try for a win. Black sacrifices his Knight for a (temporary) couple of Pawns, hoping for a speedy march of the a-Pawn. 41. f3! Kd5 42. Nb2 b6 43. Kf2 a5 44. bxa5 bxa5 45. Kg2 Kc5 46. Nd3+ Kc4 47. Ne5+ Kb4 48. Kxh2 Kxa4 49. Nc6 Kb5 50. Nxe7 a4 51. Nd5 a3 52. Nc3+ Kc4 53. Na2 Kb3. Most likely 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) was now expecting something like 54. Nc1+? Kb2 55. Nd3+ Kc3 56. Nc1 Kd2 57. Na2 Kxe3 with quite an easy win, instead... 54. e4! This extreme countermeasure actually transforms the endgame in the most radical way. The e-Pawn also aims at a crown, as the ensuing Queen ending will not be winnable – even though 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) took quite a little time for persuading himself. It should be noted that 54. e4! would have worked even if Black had played 53. ... Kd3 (instead of 53. ... Kb3). 56. ... Kxa2 55. e5 Kb1 56. e6 a2 57. e7 a1=Q 58. e8=Q Qd4 59. Kg3 h5 60. Qe1+ Kc2 61. Qe2+ Qd2 62. Qc4+ Kd1 63. Qb3+ Ke1 64. Qb1+ Qd1 65. Qb6 h4+ 66. Kxh4 Qxf3 67. Qg1+ Ke2 68. Kg5 Qh5+ 69. Kf6 Kf3 70. Qf1+ Kg3 71. Qc1 Qg4 72. Ke5 Qf3 73. Qg1+ Qg2 74. Qe1+ Qf2 75. Qc1 Kg4 76. Qd1+ Kh3 77. Qh1+ Kg3 78. Qc1 Qb6 79. Qe1+ Kg2 80. Qc1 Kh2 81. Qd2+ Kh3 82. Qc1 Qb5+ 83. Kf6 Kg4 84. Kxg6 Qb6+ 85. Kf7 Qd4 86. Ke6 Qxf4 87. Qg1+ Kh4 88. Qg6 ½ : ½.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) (R.) vs. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
Photo: cca.imsa.cn

The March of the Six

Anish Giri – Michael Adams

"读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), March 23, 2017

Spanish Game C83

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. c3 0-0 11. Bc2 f5 12. Nb3 Qd7 13. Nbd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 c5 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. f3 Ng5 17. a4 Rad8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bxg5 Bxg5 20. f4 Be7 21. Kh1 d4. The alternative is 21. ... Qb6 22. Qd3!? c4 23. Qh3 g6 24. g4 d4 25. gxf5 Qc6+ (very probably Black shouldn’t have exchanged Queens; Stockfish’s 25. ... d3! seems, indeed, more to the point) 26. Qg2 Qxg2+ 27. Kxg2 d3 28. Bd1 Rxf5 29. Bg4 Rff8 30. Ra5 h5 31. Bd1 b4 32. Ra6 bxc3 33. bxc3 Kh7 34. Ra7 Rf7 35. Rc7 with a very favourable endgame for White, Karjakin – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 3rd Gashimov Memorial, Şəmkir 2016. 22. cxd4 c4 23. b3 Bc5 24. bxc4 Rxd4

25. Qf3!? Giri’s new idea, which may be well regarded as tantamount to a draw offer in a drawish position. The usual course was here 25. Qb1 bxc4 26. Ra5 Qc6 [for 26. ... Qb6 27. Rb5 Qc6 28. Bd1 g6 29. Bf3 Qc8 30. Rb7 see Sebag – A. Muzychuk, 4th SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2014] 27. Bd1 Qc7 28. Qb5 Bb6 29. Ra6 Rb8 30. Bf3 c3 31. Rc1 Kh8 32. Ra8?? (32. g3) 32. ... Rxa8 33. Bxa8 Rd8!−+ Sebag – M. Muzychuk, 11th Women’s European Team Chess Championship, Reykjavík 2015. 25. ... bxc4 26. Rfd1 g6 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Qxa8+ Kg7 30. Qb7+ Qf7 31. Qxf7+ ½ : ½.

Standing from left are the six participants to the "读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters: Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler, Michael Adams, Pentala Harikrishna, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), and Anish Giri. Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Can’t Buy Me Love

Here are further details regarding the endorsement deal between the Chinese Chess Association — on behalf, too, of 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) — and their new sponsor 山东景芝酒业股份有限公 (Shāndōng Jǐngzhī Liquor Co., Ltd.):

A ¥100,000 元 (yuán) bonus for 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

A blue sapphire necklace for 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

A limited edition commemorative wine bottle for 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

And another one for the coach of all coaches 余少腾 (Yú Shǎoténg). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

And, finally, the signing moment between Chinese Chess Association (CCA)’s Secretary-General 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) and 山东景芝酒业股份有限公 (Shāndōng Jǐngzhī Liquor Co., Ltd.)’s Deputy Manager 曹天河 (Cáo Tiānhé), officialising an endorsement deal through which the wine company set up a fund worth ¥10,000,000 million 元 (yuán) for supporting the national chess development. Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus

16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) received a ¥100,000 元 (yuán) bonus, a blue sapphire, a limited edition commemorative wine, and floral wreaths from a company which set up a fund to support both her career and chess development overall. The sponsor is 山东景芝酒业股份有限公 (Shāndōng Jǐngzhī Liquor Co., Ltd.), with the blessing of the Chinese Chess Association, which will handle the fund administration and its related issues.

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) enjoying her lucky day
All photos: qipai.org.cn

Dressing for Dinner in the Naked City

Chinese Chess Association (CCA)’s Secretary-General 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) and 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s 伊芙心悦 (Eve NY) Fashion Company Limited’s CEO Mrs. 沈宏 (Chén Hóng) signed an endorsement deal at the Sports management center of Chinese Sports General Administration in 北京 (Běijīng), March 10, 2017. It is the historical day when Chinese women’s chess team became brand ambassadors for 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s 伊芙心悦 (Eve NY) Fashion Company Limited.

Grandmaster and Challenger in next year’s Women’s World Chess Championship match 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) wearing an elegant raincoat. Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

The Queens’s Gambit

16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). On the International Women’s Day, she was awarded the 重庆 (Chóngqìng) “March 8” Red-Banner Pacesetters title. Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Grandmaster and Challenger in next year’s Women’s World Chess Championship match 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

International Master and Woman Grandmaster 郭琦 (Guō Qí). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Grandmaster 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Fashioning a Queendom

北京 (Běijīng), March 10, 2017. Chinese Chess Association (CCA)’s Secretary-General 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) and 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s 伊芙心悦 (Eve NY) Fashion Company Limited’s CEO Mrs. 沈宏 (Chén Hóng) signing at the Sports management center of Chinese Sports General Administration the endorsement deal which will give Chinese women’s chess team the role of brand ambassadors. All photos: cca.imsa.cn.

Quem recitas meus est, o Fidentine, libellus: sed male cum recitas, incipit esse tuus. The book that you recite from, Fidentinus, is my own. But when you read it badly, it belongs to you alone. I versi che tu reciti, o Fidentino, son miei; ma siccome li reciti male, ecco diventano tuoi. Martial, Epigrams, Book 1, XXXVIII English translation by Susan McLean Italian translation by Holden Caulfield

Commitment to Equality

Among the others, one decision has been taken by the 87th FIDE Congress General Assembly, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 13 September 2016:

GA-2016/34. To ratify the recommendation of the Executive Board to authorize Presidential Board to take a final decision on the proposal by the Chinese Chess Association for the modification of the Women’s World Championship cycle.