《后翼弃兵》(“The Queen’s Gambit”)

貝絲·哈蒙 (Beth Harmon) goes Greater China! Thanks to four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who provided consulting help to assist short-story writer 于是 (Yú Shì) in adapting and translating Walter Tevis’s novel “The Queen’s Gambit” into Chinese. “The Chinese version of the novel ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ was eagerly awaited by the public, and I believe it will help increase interest in chess among Chineses”, says 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). As for her experience as a reader and advisor, she has this to say: “A pleasant journey into women’s chess world — all the way to the top: be your own queen! I hope that in the future chess will inspire more and more art, literature, movies and television. As for being a technical consultant, it made me feel like my time playing chess had been even more worthwhile!”. Photos: 人民文学外国文学 (People’s Literature Publishing House).

旁白 (Voice-over)

“I think I made this decision [Editor’s Note: To drop out of the Women’s World Championship cycle] because I felt like there should be some improvements in the women’s world chess championship system. Back then, the systems of open section and women’s section were completely different. That was something that could be improved. My first and straightforward concern was why we couldn’t have the same system as the open section? I felt like that was more reasonable. Because once you win a match, you have the right to wait for the challenger, and the challenger should be qualified from the Candidates event. I felt like it’s probably a moment when I should do something not only for myself but also for the entire women’s chess. I was thinking, if I did not stand up to say something, maybe the system would just be like that, and if I say something, it could bring more attention to improving the system. And very soon, like in two years, the system was changed. Talking about this, I would like to thank the current management board of FIDE, who took this issue as a clear priority to improve the women’s system in general. I feel very happy that it could happen one day, and I actually helped this happen”. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) FIDE Podcast Episode 3

Sunday Mass

“Maybe one day I could break 2700 or even be in top-40, top-30. I don’t think that’s impossible to be honest. But I would be like a machine, a chess machine”. “也许有一天，我可以打破了2700个评分，甚至进入Top 40或Top 30。坦白说,我认为这并非不可能。但我会变得像一台机器，一台国际象棋机器”。 “Возможно, однажды я могла бы преодолеть планку в 2700 пунктов рейтинга и даже оказаться в ТОП-40 или ТОП-30. Честно говоря, я не думаю, что это невозможно. Но я была бы как машина, как шахматная машина”. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

An Asian Gambit

The press office of the Chinese Chess Association announced today that, at the end of the month, it will start a series of qualifying tournaments for the 19th Asian Games （2022年亚洲运动会）, scheduled to be held in 杭州 (Hángzhōu), 浙江省 (Zhèjiāng province), China on September 10–25, 2022, featuring virtually all of the country’s top stars including such as four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and then in alphabetical order, 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié), 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), 韦奕 (Wéi Yì), and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī).

The Voice in the Machine

“Maybe one day I could break 2700 or even be in top-40, top-30. I don’t think that’s impossible to be honest. But I would be like a machine, a chess machine”. Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is to guest-star on Episode 3’s FIDE Podcast release on March 27, available (so far) on Podbean, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn. For information and subscription, click here.

Cryptography in the Database

• Sergio Ernesto Negri, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), una de las cinco líneas del pentagrama de la historia del ajedrez femenino | 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), one of the five lines of the staff in women’s chess history, ChessBase.com, February 28, 2022

For one who regards that “competing with top males is talent and opportunity”, her preferential participation in not for women only tournaments is both a challenge and a display of self-confidence. Reasons are not lacking: her career was both brilliant and precocious. She gave much, and she can give much more if she wants to continue devoting her innate talent to a game that, as it is to this day, designates her as one of the lines of a magic staff, and one in which she shares a sublime music with Vera Frantsevna Menchik, Nona Terentevna Gaprindashvili, Maia Grigorievna Chiburdanidze and Judit Polgár, as 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has already become, and by far, one of the five best female players in the history of the noble game. [Read more].

A star in the database: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: ChessBase.com.

Celebrity Birthdays on February 27

Chess.com (@chess.com)

Before After

It took only three days for 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì) to win the four days’ 2022 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Grandmaster Chess Match against four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who graciously agreed with the organisers and sponsors not to play tomorrow, thus sparing herself the obligation of staging a last gladiatorial game. But in spite of defeat, good can still be achieved. It was indeed the first classical chess performance of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in nearly two years, which means that she, at the modest price of 8.2 Elo points, conserved and confirmed the first place in the women’s world ranking list, about 40 points ahead of Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina. It is no small thing for an University Professor who now devotes most of her time to teaching and/or to preparation for teaching. As for the match, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) expressed her regret of having made big mistakes in the last throes of the first two games, which otherwise should have been drawable. But as the clock ticked everything happened in a flash. On the other hand, “卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)’s endgame technique is, grossly speaking, better than mine”, she said.

Priority inversion

卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2022 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Grandmaster Chess Match game 3; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), February 23, 2022

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 0-0 7. Qc2 Bd6 8. c5. The more reserved 8. h3 has also its merits: 8. ... dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 10. 0-0 a6 11. a3 Bd7 12. Rd1 h6 13. b4 Qe7 14. d5!⩲ with a space advantage for White, Mamedyarov – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 8. ... Be7 9. Bb5. Forget it not: 9. a3 a5 10. Bb5 Nb8 (10. ... Bd7 11. Rb1 b6 transposes into the Kurajica – Vl. Kovačević game mentioned below) 11. 0-0 b6 12. c6 Ba6 13. Bd2 Ne8 14. a4 Nd6 15. Ne5 Qe8 16. Rac1 Ra7 17. Rfe1 f6 18. Nd3 Bc8 19. Qb3 with a powerful bind, 王玥 (Wáng Yuè) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”, 儋州 (Dānzhōu) 2016. 9. ... Bd7 10. a3 a5 11. Rb1 Qe8!? A novelty by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Vintage theory reads 11. ... b6 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 bxc5 14. bxc5 Rb8 15. 0-0 Ng4? (⌓ 15. ... Na5) 16. h3 Nh6 16. e4! with great advantage to White. Kurajica – Vl. Kovačević, Zonal Tournament 1.2b, Zagreb 1993. 12. Bd3. 12. b4? Nxb4! was the point behind Black’s previous move. 12. ... a4!? 13. 0-0. If 13. Nxa4?! then 13. ... Nxd4! regaining the Pawn with interest. 13. ... b6 14. cxb6 cxb6 15. Ne5. White is perhaps too hasty. Also considering the position of Black’s Queen, probably it would have been better to play 15. Re1 aiming for e3–e4. 15. ... Nxe5 16. dxe5

16. ... Ne4! Black sacrifices a Pawn to stretch her piece play and two Bishops to its maximum potential. 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Rc8 19. Qd1. Of course taking the Pawn would cost the Bishop. 19. ... Bc6 20. Qf3 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Qb5 22. Bd2 Qb3 23. Bc3

23. ... Bxa3. The beginning of a semi-forced liquidation to a virtually drawn Rook ending. 24. bxa3 Qxc3 25. Qxa4 Ra8 26. Qd4 Qxd4 27. exd4 Rfd8 28. Rfd1 Rxa3 29. Rxb6 Ra5 30. f4

30. ... g5! 31. fxg5 Rxe5 32. Rb8 Rxb8 33. dxe5 Rb4 ½ : ½.

Day After Night

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)

2022 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Grandmaster Chess Match game 2; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), February 22, 2022

Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 0-0 8. h3 a5. The alternative is 8. ... a6 9. a4 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Nxe3 d5 15. Qc2 Qd7 16. Rad1 Rd8= M. O. Muzychuk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Lviv 2016, Women’s World Chess Championship match game 1. 9. a4 Be6 10. Bxe6. It’s not the easiest decision to make, but perhaps 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) still had bad memories about 10. Na3 Bxa3 11. Bxe6 Bxb2 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. Bxb2 Qd7 14. c4 Raf8 15. Nh4 Kh7 16. f4!? exf4 17. d4 Re8 18. Qb1 Kg8 19. Nf3 Rfe7 20. d5 Ne5 21. Bxe5 Rxe5! 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Qxb7 f3! 24. Qb3 fxg2 25. Qf3 Qe8 26. Ra2 Nxe4 27. Rae2 Ng5 28. Qg4? (28. Qxg2 Nxh3+ 29. Kh2 Ng5∞) 28. ... Rxe2! 29. Rxe2 Qxe2! 30. Qxe2 Nxh3+ 31. Kh2 g1=Q+ 32. Kxh3 Kh7 33. Qd2 h5 34. Qxa5 Qh1+ 35. Kg3 h4+ 36. Kf4 Qh2+ 37. Kf5 Qe5+ 38. Kg4 Qg3+ 39. Kf5 h3 0 : 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Caruana, 3rd Isle of Man International Chess Tournament, Douglas 2016. 10. ... fxe6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Rxe3 Qe8 13. Nbd2 b6!? A safe novelty, by means of which Black thinks to elude the theoretical preparation of his opponent. After 13. ... Nh5 14. g3 Qf7 15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Nh4 d5 17. Rf1 Nf6 18. Qd1 d4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Ree1 g5 21. Ng2 Qh5 22. Qxh5 Nxh5 forces are formally balanced but Black has the easier game, Praggnanandhaa – So, 31st Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez Ciudad de León, León 2018, Semifinal match game 4 (time control: 20 minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Nb4 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Qb3 Kh8 18. Rce1 Qf7 19. Nc4 Nd7 20. R1e2 Qh5. 20. ... e5!? 21. dxe5 Nc5 is also interesting. 21. Qd1 Rf4 22. Ne1 d5 23. exd5 Qxd5

24. Ne5 Nxe5. 24. ... Rxd4 was also possible, whereupon there might follow 25. Qb1 Nxe5 26. Rxe5 Rd1 27. Qg6 Qd3 28. Qxe6 Rf8= with equality. But Black apparently aims at more than that. 25. Rxe5 Qxd4 26. Qxd4 Rxd4 27. Rxe6 Na6 28. Nf3! A brilliant way of keeping control over her situation. White gives up a Pawn on the Queenside to mount an attack on the Kingside, which proves to be enough for equality. 28. ... Rxa4 29. Rg6 Kh7 30. Rg3 Rg8 31. Re7 Ra1+ 32. Kh2 Rf1

33. Nd4 Rxf2 34. Ne6 Kh8. 34. ... Nb4 35. Rxc7 Kh8 36. Nxg7 Nd5 merely transposes to the game. 35. Nxg7 Nb4 36. Rxc7 Nd5 37. Rd7! Nf4. Not 37. ... Rxb2? because of 38. Nh5! winning the Knight, since otherwise White plays 39. Rh7+! Kxh7 40. Nf6+ followed by mate. 38. b3 Rb2

39. Rf7? 39. Kh1!! was White’s very last chance of saving the game, for now if 39. ... Nxg2 there follows 40. Nh5 Rf2 (40. ... Rxg3?? 41. Nf6!! mates by force) 41. Rxg8+ Kxg8 42. Rg7+ Kf8 43. Rxg2 Rf5! 44. Ng3 Rf3 with a draw being very likely. 39. ... Nxg2!−+ 40. Kh1. Of course the Pawn ending would be lost, while in case of 40. Kg1 Black replies with 40. ... Nh4−+ anyway. 40. ... Nh4 41. Rg4 Rxb3 42. Rb7 (42. Rxh4 Rxg7−+) 42. ... Rxh3+ 43. Kg1 h5 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has (very undeservedly) lost the first two games in her first physical classical match over two years, thus confirming what Anderssen said after his match with Morphy, that excellence, even the highest excellence, cannot be conserved in a glass casket, like a jewel, to be worn when desired, but on the contrary it can be cultivated only by a constant practice. On the other hand Morphy in a solemn speech said that “Chess has never been and never can be aught but a recreation. It should not be indulged it to the detriment of other and more serious avocations” — just such as her academic career. That being said, and the sin being expiated, there are still two games left, and the woman in the coat may still be able to flaunt her crown jewel, considering her physique du rôle and the great talent she possesses. Photo: 郑志鹏 (Zhèng Zhìpéng)/深圳晚报 (Shēnzhèn Evening News).

The Lost Painting

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and world’s woman No. 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is to come back to classical chess! In fact she will play a four games’ inter-gender match against 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì) which will be taking place at 南山博物馆 (Nánshān Museum) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China from February 21–24, 2022, with classic time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. If the score is tied after four games, they’ll play two blitz games and, if still tied, an Armageddon tie-breaker.

The Long Hot Summer

The Long Hot Summer is yet to come, so just count the weeks until the “Battle of Grandmasters”, a two days’ gender clash between four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) of China and American wunderkind Abhimanyu Mishra, takes place July 28–30, 2022 at Irving Convention Centre in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas, United States, as a special highlight of the three-day technology conference NFT South. Thousands people are expected to attend, while millions more will enjoy the live broadcast, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Programs schedule subject to change: Thursday, July 28: 4 games (1 rapid and 3 blitz); Friday, July 29: 4 games (1 rapid and 3 blitz). According to the announcement, “images and videos from each game will be minted as NFTs on a sustainable blockchain protocol and auctioned off to the highest bidders”. For further information, click here.

Minted Mango Tea

It’s less than six months to go until the “Battle of Grandmasters”, a two days’ gender clash between four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) of China and American wunderkind Abhimanyu Mishra, takes place July 28–30, 2022 at Irving Convention Centre in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas, United States, as a special highlight of the three-day technology conference NFT South. Thousands people are expected to attend, while millions more will enjoy the live broadcast, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Programs schedule subject to change: Thursday, July 28: 4 games (1 rapid and 3 blitz); Friday, July 29: 4 games (1 rapid and 3 blitz). According to the announcement, “images and videos from each game will be minted as NFTs on a sustainable blockchain protocol and auctioned off to the highest bidders”. For further information, click here.

Trictrac

The 2022 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Lunar New Year Cup World Chess Stars Invitational Tournament, which was being held online 29–30 January, finally crowned its champions: four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) won the four-game rapid double match against 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) 2½ – 1½ (+2 =1 –1), while the six-game rapid & blitz match between 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) was won by the latter 4½ – 1½ (+3 =3).

数字艺术 (Digital art)

Substantial further details were given about the “Battle of Grandmasters”, a two days’ gender clash between four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) of China and American wunderkind Abhimanyu Mishra, which will put on the map the NFT conference NFT South to be held at Irving Convention Centre in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas, United States from July 28–30, 2022. Thousands people are expected to attend, while millions more will enjoy the live broadcast. Programs schedule subject to change: Thursday, July 28: 4 games (1 rapid and 3 blitz); Friday, July 29: 4 games (1 rapid and 3 blitz). According to the announcement, “images and videos from each game will be minted as NFTs on a sustainable blockchain protocol and auctioned off to the highest bidders”. For further information, click here.

Cast a Diva

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will be one of the stars at 2022 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) Lunar New Year Cup World Chess Stars Invitational Tournament January 29, an online show challenge featuring a lively series of rapid (25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move) & blitz (5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move) games among two men, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), and four women, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Yet the women’s tournament features a novel format for online chess as the four girls are divided by drawing into two opposing pairs to play a rapid double match.

Summer Is Coming

The “Battle of Grandmasters”, a two days’ match between four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) of China and American wunderkind Abhimanyu Mishra, will be the featured attraction at the NFT conference NFT South which will be taking place at Irving Convention Centre in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas, United States from July 28–30, 2022. For further details, click here.

Taking the Stage

Even this year four-time Women’s Word Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) carries the flag of 济南银丰 (Jǐnán Yínfēng) team in the 2nd “机器人谷杯” (“Robot Valley Cup”) China City Chess League (and thus defending the title won last year). She made her début on January 8, 2022 in Round Two of the Candidates online stage at 智赛网 (zhisai.net), winning with Black against 刘曼犁 (Liú Mànlí) of 广州二沙 (Guǎngzhōu Èrshā) team. The time control was 20 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Screenshot courtesy of sohu.com.

The Path of Knowledge

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): From “Chess Queen” to “Workplace Newbie” CRI/CIBN, October 15, 2021 Society & Culture Listen on Apple Podcast 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) learned to play chess at 5. At 14, she was the youngest woman to ever be awarded the title of Grandmaster. At 16, she won the Women’s World Chess Championship for the first time, thus becoming the youngest Chess Queen ever. Subsequently she won the world title three more times: in 2011, 2013 and 2016, to become the youngest woman in chess history to be crowned four times. In July 2020 she found a new identity as she was appointed as the youngest full Professor ever at the School of Physical Education, Normal College (Faculty of Education), 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University). At present she is still world’s woman No. 1.

Lost in Transition