The Odd Couple

Lifestyles

Once Upon a Birthday

From a video interview published on July 24, 2020: Alina Kirsanovna Ilyumzhinova, the daughter of 6th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, celebrates her 22nd birthday by initiating a fundraiser for MOVEMENT UP, a charity aimed at helping children with disabilities.

Last But Not Least

Among the many obituaries, eulogies and tributes published after Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev’s death at the end of August, it is worth quoting a short memoir by 6th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, who was a lifetime friend of the late President of the Soviet Union:

Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov: “Gorbachev left a beautiful era full of happy hopes behind” Kirsan Today, August 31, 2022 Back in the 1990s, pictured, from left: Ilyumzhinov and Gorbachev. Photo: Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev died at [91] after a serious and long illness. Gorbachev was the last General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the only President of the Soviet Union. On December 25, 1991, in a televised address to the nation, he announced his resignation as Soviet President and Commander-in-Chief and signed a decree transferring to Russian President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin control over strategic nuclear weapons. He left a beautiful era full of happy hopes behind. Mikhail Sergeevich was a great man, lively and bright. I had the great privilege of knowing him personally, enjoying his conversation and the deepness of his personality. He generously shared his knowledge — he loved people and always remained kind and user friendly. I am grateful to fate that I had the honour to live at the same time as Gorbachev, a man who tried to change the world for the better. Eternal memory to Mikhail Sergeyevich, and my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Pictured, from left: Ilyumzhinov, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Gorbachev, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s mother, 王茜 (Wáng Qiàn), at the awarding ceremony of the 35th Women’s World Championship in Tirana, Albania on November 30, 2011. Photo: Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov.

Последний император (The Last Emperor)

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, the last President of the Soviet Union, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and ideologist of glasnost and perestroika, “died this evening after a serious and long illness”, the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow said, quoted by the Interfax, TASS and RIA Novosti news agencies. He was 91. In a world split in two, he dreamed to have the best of both worlds. Among his many highlights, Gorbachev can also boast the unique privilege of crowning — as pictured above — the Queen of Chess, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), at the awarding ceremony of the 35th Women’s World Championship in Tirana, Albania on November 30, 2011. Photo: Hektor Pustina/AP.

Things to Come and Go

Kim Yo-jong (김여정), sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (김정은) and Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea, has spoken out twice in two days in favour of a resumption of peace talks with South Korea, but “only if impartiality and mutual respect are guaranteed”, she said. In such case, a summit could be held “at an early date through constructive discussions”.

Life Stories

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union, has celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday while staying in a hospital as a precaution amid the pandemic. Good wishes and congratulations came from the most prominent world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who hailed him as an “outstanding statesman” who influenced the course of history. Evgeny Anatolyevich Surov, editor-in-chief of the most popular Russian website Chess-News.ru, also recalls how, upon the world’s stage, Gorbachev has appeared in many unforgettable chess scenes, such as the awarding ceremony of the 35th Women’s World Championship in Tirana, Albania on November 30, 2011, when he crowned 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), as pictured above, after she successfully defended her title from the challenge of Humpy Koneru. Photo: Hektor Pustina/AP.

The Alien Next Door

Alina Kirsanovna Ilyumzhinova, the beloved daughter of 6th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, is not only a beautiful mind, who graduated from the Lomonosov Private School with a Gold Medal of Merit, and then successfully carried out diplomatic studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), but, in her time off, she does not disdain the limelight of the stage and the flashes of the photographers. And so there she was, in the spring of 2017, flaunting an assortment of graduation outfits provided by Bosco di Ciliegi, Russia’s largest multi-brand luxury retail chain. Photos: PE✪PLETALK.RU.

Sight and Sound

Within sight and sound of the Solaris Ocean Dmitry Sokolov conducted a biographical interview with 6th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov for Собеседник (Interlocutor), No. 6 (1742), February 20–26, 2019, pp. 12–13. The full English translation of the interview, entitled “Kirsan Ilyumzhinov: I am independent. I am here today, in London tomorrow”, is available online on Ilyumzhinov’s website. In one of the photographs accompanying the press article, Ilyumzhinov is portrayed along with his beloved daughter Alina Kirsanovna Ilyumzhinova, who on occasion wore a long princess style dress with a train. The photo is credited to Olga Zinovskaya of Russian News Agency TASS.

Back to Before

He Is Back is a Hollywood film weaved around martial arts directed by Chitah Yajnesh Shetty, and starred by Abb Li (popularly known as Afghan Bruce Lee) and Alina Kirsanovna Ilyumzhinova (pictured above in orange dress, and below), who’s no one else but 7th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov’s beloved daughter. The movie was sumptuously launched on last year’s summer at Armani Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in the presence of honourable guests such as Her Royal Excellency of Thailand Mom Luang Rajadarasri Jayankura, Ilyumzhinov himself (pictured below, standing fourth from the left), and Prince Firooz Alexander Sefre, Member of Royal Institute of British Architects from England. Photos: mangalorean.com.

Studying Abroad

• Кирсан Илюмжинов встретился со студенткой из Элисты | Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov met with a student from Elista, Elista.org, May 7, 2019

Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov met with a student from Elista

Elista-born Nina Bambysheva, who is studying at New York University Abu Dhabi, wrote a letter to the first President of Kalmykia asking for a personal meeting.

When she learned that Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov was on a visit in Abu Dhabi, she didn’t want to miss the opportunity of personally meeting the sixth President of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE). Kirsan Nikolayevich, who always supported young people, answered her letter and invited her to the palace of the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates.

The Sugarland Express

Pictured above, from left, are 徐龙海 (Xú Lónghǎi), Deputy President of 和建国际工程有限公司 (Harcan Engineering Co., Ltd.), and Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, President of the International Sugar Corporation (ISC) as well as former President of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), signing a memorandum for construction on April 25, 2019 in 北京 (Běijīng), China. The signing of the agreement formalised the Chinese investment in the pilot project of the “First Donskoy Sugar Factory” to be constructed in Tselina, Tselinsky District, Rostov Oblast, Russia. As Ilyumzhinov told Nezavisimaya Gazeta by phone immediately after the memorandum signing, construction works will start on next September. “The cost of the project is 16 billion and 200 million rubles (about $250 million dollar), of which approximately 30% will be Chinese investment”, Ilyumzhinov said. “The construction will be conducted by the Chinese company Harcan Engineering, which is involved in constructing nuclear power plants as well as other complex industrial facilities in 24 countries. The factory will start working in September 2021”. Photo © yugsn.ru.

色環 (Colour Wheel)

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.

Beyond the Board

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.

Life Is Not Easy

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.

“我从不回头，亲爱的。因为它会干扰我，让我无法全心关注当下” (“I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now”)

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.

Whether by elevator or by stairs, the coffee house on the ground floor is worth stopping for

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.

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.

The School of the Heart

On Wednesday, December 19, 2018, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) held a friendly meeting with the students of the 深圳中学 (Shēnzhèn Middle School) and 龙岗小学 (Lónggǎng Primary School) in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China speaking about her own experiences experiences as a student and a chess professional, with a special advice to all of them: “Go where your heart takes you and do what you really like to do”, she said. “And be ready to solve any difficulties you may encounter”. All photos: sohu.com.

East, West, Home’s Best

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.

精靈寶可夢 太陽·月亮 (Pokémon Sun & Moon)

北京卫戍区仪仗大队 (Běijīng Capital Garrison Honour Guard Battalion) prepares ahead of a welcome ceremony for Norway’s King Harald V at the 人民大会堂 (Great Hall of the People) in 北京 (Běijīng), China on October 16, 2018. Photo: AFP/Nicolas Asfour.