鸟巢 (Bird’s Nest)

Three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) posing as a muse for photographers in the outdoor of the 鸟巢 (Bird’s Nest). Photo: World Mind Games.

淘金潮

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Notes by Alina l’Ami

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侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Humpy Koneru

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Basque Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014

Bishop’s Opening C24

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Qd6 8. Qg5 Nbd7 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Nh4 g6 11. 0-0 h6 12. Qd2 Kf8 13. d4 e4 14. Nc3 Kg7 15. f3 Re8 16. Rae1 e3 17. Qd3 Nb8 18. f4 b6 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. Rf3 Ng4 21. g3 Nc6 22. f5 g5 23. f6+ Nxf6 24. Rfxe3 Qd8 25. Rxe8 Nxe8 26. Nf3 Ba6 27. a4 Nf6 28. Ne5 Rc8 29. c3 Ne7 30. Rf1 Bxb5 31. axb5 Qd6 32. Bc2 Rf8 33. Qf3 Qe6 34. Ra1 Ra8 35. Re1 Qd6 36. Re2 a6 37. bxa6 Rxa6 38. Rf2 Ra8 39. Ng4 Neg8 40. Ne3. The matchup between the former and current women world champion was a final the spectators could only dream of! And a thrilling final it was indeed! In game 1 Hóu Yìfán was better throughout but Humpy Koneru was defending stubbornly. Eventually the Indian grandmaster succumbed under the pressure:

40. ... Kh8? 40. ... Ne7! would have prevented the Knight from reaching f5. 41. Nf5 Qd7 42. Nxh6! Over. Koneru still tried 42. ... Qh3 but after 43. Nxf7+ the three Pawns proved more than enough. 43. ... Kg7 44. Nxg5 Ra1+ 45. Rf1 Rxf1+ 46. Qxf1 Qg4 47. Qf5 Qxf5 48. Bxf5 Ne7 49. Bd3 Nc6 50. Kg2 1 : 0. (Notes by Alina l’Ami).

Humpy Koneru – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Basque Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014

Queen’s Indian Defence E16

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. 0-0 0-0 8. b3 h6 9. a3 Bxd2 10. Nbxd2 c5 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. Qb2 Qe7 13. Rfd1 d5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. e3 Rfd8 16. Rac1 Rac8 17. Nb1 Ne4 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nc3 Qf6 20. Qc2 Nxc3 21. Qxc3 d4 22. Qxc5 Ne7 23. Qe5 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Qxe5 25. Nxe5 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 dxe3 27. fxe3 Rd2+ 28. Kf3 Rxh2 29. Rc7 Ng6 30. Rc8+ Kh7 31. Nxf7 Rb2 32. Rb8 a4 33. b4 Rb3 34. b5 Rxa3. However, on the other board it was Humpy calling the shots. In the diagrammed position she has just given up her extra Pawn in order to set her b-pawn in motion:

35. b6? Too fast! Instead 35. Ke4! Rb3 36. Nd6 followed by Rb8-a8 or, if allowed, b6–b7, would have placed Black in a very difficult situation. 35. .. Rb3 36. Nd6 Ne5+ 37. Ke4 Nd7! Suddenly winning the b-Pawn, and with it, the gold! 38. Ra8 Nxb6 39. Ra7 a3 40. Nf5 Rb4+ 41. Ke5 Ra4! And the a-Pawn decided the outcome of the match 2–0 in Hóu Yìfán’s favour. 42. Rxg7+ Kh8 43. Rb7 a2 44. Rb8+ Kh7 45. Rb7+ Kg8 46. Rb8+ Kf7 47. Rb7+ Ke8 48. Nd6+ Kf8 49. Rb8+ Kg7 50. Nf5+ Kf7 51. Rb7+ Ke8 52. Nd6+ Kf8 53. Rb8+ Ke7 54. Nf5+ Kd7 55. Rxb6 a1=Q+ 0 : 1. (Notes by Alina l’Ami).

Humpy Koneru vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng)

红旗

北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014. Prizes, medals and awards. From the left: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photos: sports.sina.com.cn.

Photo: World Mind Games

The Queen of the Tearling

北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014. Prizes, medals and awards. From the left: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (Silver), 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (Gold) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) (Bronze). Photos: World Mind Games.

World Mind Games (@WorldMindGames)

星際大戰

Photo: World Mind Games (Facebook)

A star rises in the East Meeting the world’s number 1 ranked female chess player at the World Mind Games 2014. Modesty comes easy to Hóu Yìfán. Before you say “Who Yìfán?” visit the FIDE world rankings page and check the women’s rankings. At just 20, Yìfán is the highest ranked female chess player in the world, who is playing currently. With Judit Polgár’s retirement, she will soon be the number one female player in the world, being just 2 points behind the Hungarian legend in the ratings at the time of writing this article. But quiz her about her popularity, and Yifan just laughs shyly and says that she is hardly even known in China, her land of birth and residence. [Read more].

奇爱博士

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Notes by Alina l’Ami

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Tatiana Anatolyevna Kosintseva – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Basque Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 16, 2014

Sicilian Defence B81

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 a6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. h3 Bd7 10. Qe2 Rc8 11. f4 Qa5 12. Qf2 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Bb6 Qb4 15. 0-0-0. After the first day of Basque, Hóu Yìfán is in 2nd position with 5/6. In round 3 she won both her games against Tatiana Kosintseva. Her Black game was won, using the thematic Sicilian Exchange sacrifice.

15. ... Rxc3! 16. bxc3 Qa3+ 17. Kd2 Be7. Quietly finishing development. Black has fantastic counterplay in the form of good chances against White’s King and the better pawn structure. 18. f5 0-0 19. Rb1 Rc8 20. Rb3 Qxa2 21. Rhb1 Qa4 22. Qe2 Bb5! 23. Rxb5 axb5 24. Rb4 Qa1 25. Rb3 Nd7 26. Qxb5 Bg5+. And the White King didn’t surive long. 27. Ke2 Nxb6 28. Qxb6 Qc1 29. c4 Qxc2+ 30. Kf1 Qxc4+ 31. Kg1 Qc1+ 32. Bf1 Rc2 33. Rf3 Qd2 0 : 1. (Notes by Alina l’Ami).

侯逸凡 (Hóu​ Yì​fán)
Photo: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng)

妈妈和女儿

王茜 (Wáng Qiàn) & 侯逸凡 (Hóu​ Yì​fán)
Photo: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng)

• 智英会国象女子超快棋赛 侯逸凡蝉联冠军赵雪第六, sports.sina.com.cn, December 15, 2014

The Girl with the Cat Tattoo

北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014. Prizes, medals and awards: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is the Golden Girl! Photo: 王亮 (Wáng Liàng).

北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014. From the left: Valentina Gunina (Silver), 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (Gold) and Anna Olegivna Muzychuk (Bronze). Photo: 王亮 (Wáng Liàng).

北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) on the top. Photo: 王亮 (Wáng Liàng).

金牌

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is the Golden Girl!
Photo: World Mind Games (Facebook)

It goes without say that in the women’s [blitz] event; Hóu Yìfán is the player to beat. Her play is astoundingly good and her winning streak unmatchable. This time around she beats Gunina with 22½ out of 30. When asked about the blitz event, she calmly said “there are so many different positions and you always need time to recover”. Pia Cramling came out in the last round and put in an impeccable performance to beat Muzychuk, who loses out on grabbing silver. [Read more]

World Mind Games (@WorldMindGames)

Breathless

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Notes by Alina l’Ami

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侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anna Ushenina

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Blitz Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014

Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Nge2 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 b4 8. Na4 Qa5 9. b3 Nc6 10. 0-0 Nf6 11. Re1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 e5 13. Qd3 Be7 14. a3 Qb5 15. axb4 Qxd3 16. cxd3 Bxb4 17. Rd1 Rc8 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. d4 Ke7 21. Nb6 Rc7 22. dxe5 fxe5 23. Nd5+ Bxd5 24. Rxd5 d6 25. Rxa6 Rc1+ 26. Bf1 Bc5 27. Ra2 Rb8 28. Rd3 Rb4 29. Kg2 Rxe4 30. Rf3 d5 31. Ra6 Ree1 32. Bb5 e4 33. Rf5 d4 34. Rc6 Bd6 35. Bc4 f6 36. Rd5 Be5 37. Rb5 Kd7 38. Ra6 Ra1 39. Rab6 Ra7 40. Rd5+ Ke7 41. f4 exf3+ 42. Kxf3 Re3+ 43. Kg4 Rd7 44. Rxd7+ Kxd7 45. Rb7+ Kc6 46. Rb5 Re1 47. Rd5 Rh1 48. Kh3 h5 49. Kg2 Re1 50. Rd8 Rc1 51. Kf3 Rh1 52. Kg2 Rc1 53. Rh8 Rc2+ 54. Kh3 Kc5 55. Rxh5 Kb4 56. Rh8 Kc3 57. Rd8 Rd2 58. Rd7 d3 59. Ba6 Rd1 60. Rxd3+ Rxd3 61. Bxd3 Kxd3 62. Kg4 Kc3 63. Kf5 Kxb3. After an intense game with mutual chances, Hóu Yìfán must have thought the game would quickly end in a draw:

64. h4 Bd6?! But this is already a step in the wrong direction after which Black’s position holds by a thread. 64. ... Bxg3 65. h5 Bd6 66. h6 Bf8 67. h7 Bg7 would secure the draw, just in time! 65. h5 Bf8? Mistakes don't came alone! But 65. ... Kc4! was indeed a tough move to find. 66. Kxf6. Now the Pawns easily decide: 66. ... Kc4 67. g4 Kd5 68. g5 Ke4 69. h6 Bd6 70. g6 Bf4 71. g7 Be5+ 72. Kf7 1 : 0. (Notes by Alina l’Ami).

12月14日，2014年北京世界智力精英运动会国际象棋超快棋赛热战中。摄影：王亮
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Anna Ushenina
北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014
Photos: 王亮 (Wáng Liàng)

荣誉勋章

北京 (Beijīng), December 12, 2014. 4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event Medal Ceremony. From the left: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (Silver), Valentina Gunina (Gold) and Anna Ushenina (Bronze). Photo: sports.sina.com.cn.

Closing ceremony with the winners of two sections: Chess and Draughts
Photo: Alina l’Ami

再戰明天......
Photo: Alina l’Ami

• 智英会国象女子快棋赛 古尼娜蝉联冠军侯逸凡银牌, sports.sina.com.cn, December 12, 2014
• Alina l’Ami, Russian doublet, sportaccord2014.fide.com, December 12, 2014

鐵金剛勇破間諜網

Valentina Gunin(a) for Gold An epic contest took place at the chess tables this afternoon, a pure treat for spectators and viewers across the world. A young lady from Russia brought her A-game to Beijīng. Valentina Gunina (RUS), 25 years old, showed us how talented she really is, winning all her games of the second day of competition. The local favourite, Hóu Yìfán (CHN) was her challenger in round 6. The match was intense, gripping and one to watch. The two ladies knew that this was a decisive one to win. Gunina felt “lucky but happy” and shared that she always “loves to play Hóu Yìfán”. Having played chess since the age of 5, her father was always there to coach her and encourage her to along the way. Now Gunina awaits the Blitz competition, “it is definitely my favourite discipline” she explained with a delightful smile. [Read more].

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; 北京 (Beijīng), 11 – 17 December 2014

第七

Tatiana Anatolyevna Kosintseva – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 12, 2014

Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. 0-0 Bg7 6. c3 Nf6 7. Re1 0-0 8. d4 d5 9. e5 Ne4 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 f6 12. exf6 exf6 13. Nbd2 g5 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Qc2 Re8 16. Nb3 Rc8 17. Nfd2 f5 18. f3 Nd6 19. Bf2 f4 20. Nc5 Bf5 21. Qa4 Qb6 22. b3 Nb5 23. h3 h6 24. Nf1 Kf7 25. Nh2 h5 26. Nf1 Bf6 27. Nd2 Bg6 28. Nd7 Qb7 29. Nxf6 Kxf6 30. Qb4 Qd7 31. a4 Nd6 32. Re5 Nf7 33. Rxe8 Rxe8 34. Qc3 Re6 35. b4 Qe8 36. Nb3 Bf5 37. Nc5 Re7 38. Na6 Nd8 39. Qc5 Bd3 40. Qd6+ Kg7 41. Nb8 Nf7 42. Qxc6 Qxb8 43. Qxd5 Qxb4 44. h4 g4 45. g3

45. ... Qd2 46. Ra1 fxg3 47. Bxg3 Qe3+ 48. Kh2 Qxf3 49. Qxf3 gxf3 50. Bf2 Nh6 51. Kg3 Ng4 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) interviewed by reporters on December 10, 2014. Photo: 戚连民 (Qī Liánmín).

第六

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Notes by Alina l’Ami

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侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Valentina Gunina

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 12, 2014

Caro-Kann Defence B10

1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 4. Ngf3 Bd6 5. d4 exd4 6. exd5 Nf6 7. dxc6 Nxc6 8. Be2 0-0 9. 0-0 Bg4 10. Nb3 Re8 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Be5 13. a3 Qc7 14. Kh1 Rad8 15. Qd3 Ne7 16. Bd2 Ng6 17. Rae1 b6 18. Re2 h6 19. Rfe1 Re7 20. g3 a5 21. Bg2 a4 22. Nc1 Bd6 23. Rxe7 Bxe7 24. f4 h5 25. Ne2 h4 26. g4 Nd5 27. Qxd4

27. ... Bc5. We enter the game at the moment fortune is falling Gunina’s way. 28. Qc4? Simply 28. Qxa4, as mentioned later on by Hóu Yìfán herself, would have kept White’s advantage, though Black is definitely still kicking after 28. ... Be3!. 28. ... Bf2! 29. Qxc7. Hóu Yìfán had missed that after 29. Bxd5 Qxc4 30. Bxc4 Bxe1 31. Bxe1 Black wins with 31. ... Rd1!. 29. ... Nxc7. Hitting both the d2–Bishop and the Rook on e1. Suddenly Hóu Yìfán is in trouble. 30. Rf1. Or 30. Rd1 Be3!. 30. ... Rxd2 31. Rxf2 Rxc2 32. Kg1 Rxb2 33. Nc3 Rb3 34. Nxa4 b5 35. Nb6 Rxa3 36. Rc2 Nxf4!? Adding even more gas on the fire! There was also nothing wrong with the counter-attack 36. ... Ra6!. 37. Rxc7 Ra1+ 38. Bf1 Nxh3+ 39. Kh2 Ng5. At this point Hóu Yìfán was terribly short on time which made the task of defending this position even harder. 40. Bd3 g6 41. Nd5 Nf3+ 42. Kh3 (42. Kg2 Ne1+) 42. ... Rg1! Suddenly the White King is under very serious threats. The only way to avoid immediate disaster is by playing... 43. Nf6+ Kf8 44. Ne4. ... but after 44. ... f5! Black won the Knight and soon after, the game! 45. gxf5 gxf5 46. Be2 fxe4 47. Bxf3 exf3 48. Rc3 Ke7 49. Re3+ Kd6 0 : 1. (Notes by Alina l’Ami).

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Valentina Gunina

第五

Nana Dzagnidze – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 12, 2014

Queen’s Pawn Game A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e4 Bb7 5. Bd3 f5 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. Bg5 fxe4 9. Bc2 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Bxe4 Nc6 12. Nf3

12. ... 0-0-0 13. 0-0 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Rad1 Qf6 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Ne4 Qf5 18. a3 Be7 19. b4 h5 20. Rd3 d5 21. cxd5 exd5 22. Ng3 Qf7 23. Rfd1 h4 24. Nf1 Rh5 25. h3 Bf6 26. Ne3 d4 27. Ng4 Bg7 28. Rc1 Qd5 29. a4 a6 30. a5 Rhh8 31. axb6 cxb6 32. Ra1 Rhe8 33. Qd1 Re6 34. Qa4 Qb5 35. Qb3 Rde8 36. Rdd1 R8e7 37. Qf3+ Qc6 38. Qd3 Qb5 39. Qf3+ Qc6 40. Qd3 b5 41. Rac1 Qe4 42. Qd2 Rc6 43. Qg5 Rxc1 44. Rxc1 Rc7 45. Rxc7+ Kxc7 46. Qc5+ Kb7 47. Qd6 Qc6 48. Qe7+ Qc7 49. Qe4+ Ka7 50. Qxg6 Bf8 51. Qf6 Bxb4 52. Qxd4+ Bc5 53. Qd5 Qd6 54. Qe4 Kb6 55. Ne3 Qd4 56. Qe6+ Qd6 57. Nd5+ Ka5 58. Qe4 Qf8 59. Qxh4 b4 60. Nf6 Qe7 61. Qh5 Kb5 62. Qf5 Qe1+ 63. Kh2 Qxf2 64. Qd3+ Ka5 65. Ne4 Qg1+ 66. Kg3 Qe3+ 67. Qxe3 Bxe3 68. Kf3 Bh6 69. Ke2 b3 70. Kd3 Kb4 71. g4 a5 72. g5 Bg7 73. h4 a4 74. h5 a3 75. h6 Bxh6 0 : 1.

World Mind Games (@WorldMindGames)

生理节律

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Just two lines by Donald Duck

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王皓 (Wáng Hào) – 王玥 (Wáng Yuè)
4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 11, 2014
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3. For the vintage alternative 10. Kd2 Nd7 11. Bd3 see E. Geller – Porreca, Zagreb 1955. 10. ... Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. g3. White’s position is symbolically preferable because of Black’s spoiled Pawn structure. 12. ... Nb6 13. 0-0-0. Dernier cri. Other variations are 13. f3 and 13. f4!? f5 14. Nf3. 13. ... Nc8 14. Bd3 Nd6 15. f3. Another try is 15. Kc2 Kd7 16. f3 Bxd3+ 17. Kxd3 f5 18. Ng2 h5 19. h4 Rag8 20. Rh3 Ne8 21. Ke2 Bd6 22. Kf2 Nf6 23. Ne2 a5 24. b3 Re8 25. Rhh1 Re7 26. Nef4 Rg8 27. Rd2 Ree8 28. Rc2 Kc7 29. a4 Kd7 30. Rh3 Rg7 31. Nd3 Kc7 32. Ngf4 Reg8 33. Rc1 Kb8 34. Rg1 Kc7 35. Rh2 Rb8 36. Rc1 Rbg8 37. Rg2 Kb8 38. Rcg1 Kc7 39. Rb1 Re8 40. Rgg1 Reg8 41. Rbc1 ½ : ½ 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Kramnik, Moscow 2014. 15. ... Kd7. Possibly sounder is 15. ... Bxd3 16. Rxd3 f5 17. Ng2 Bg5 18. Kc2 ½ : ½ Yermolinsky – Azmaiparashvili, 28th Chess Olympiad, Elista 1988. 16. e4 dxe4 17. fxe4 Kc7 18. Rhf1 Rae8 19. a4 a6 20. Kc2 b5 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rde1 Bd8 23. b4 Kb7 24. Kb3 Re6 25. Ng2 Bb6 26. Nf4 Re7? Too remissive. A positional Exchange sacrifice was called for: 26. ... Bxd4! 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Ne2 Be5 29. Ng1 Bh5! 30. Nf3 Bxf3 31. Rxf3 h5! and, although only one Pawn as a compensation, Black looks OK in this type of mutual blockade. 27. d5! c5. Possibly better 27. ... Bd4, but after 28. dxc6+ Kxc6 29. Rc1 White’s position is imposing as well. 28. Nxb5 Nxb5 29. Bxb5 cxb4. Of course 29. ... Bxe4?? is refuted by 30. Bc6+ Kc7 31. d6+. If, instead, 29. ... Rxe4 then 30. Bc6+ Kc7 41. Nxg6 and White dominates the e-file. 30. d6 Re5 31. Bc4 Kc6 32. Nxg6 fxg6 33. Rxf6 Bd8 34. Bd5+ Kd7 35. Rf7+ Kxd6 36. Rc1 Ree8 37. Rc6+ Ke5 38. Kc4. Threatening Rf7-d7-d6-e6+. 38. ... b3!? Spes, ultima dea. 39. Kxb3. A half step. After 39. Rd7 b2 40. Rdd6 His Majesty is doomed. 39. ... Ref8? More stubborn is 39. ... Kd4! 40. Rc4+ Ke5 (40. ... Ke3? 41. e5!+-) 41. Rc8, which makes it more difficult for White to win.

40. Kc4. With the threat of Rc6-e6 mate. 40. ... Re8 (40. ... Rxf7 41. Re6 mate) 41. Kd3 Rhf8 42. Rxf8 1 : 0.

王皓 (Wáng Hào) vs. 王玥 (Wáng Yuè)
Photo: blog.sina.com.cn

第四

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Antoaneta Stefanova

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 11, 2014

Caro-Kann Defence B10

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bb5 Qd6 8. 0-0 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. d4 e6 11. g4 Bg6 12. Ne5 Be7 13. Qa4 0-0 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Rac8 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. Nxg6 fxg6 19. Rd1 Rc2 20. Rd2 Rc4 21. Re2 Rxd4 22. Be3 Rd3 23. Bxa7 Rxh3 24. Re6 Bf4 25. a4 Rh4 26. a5. With great sensitivity, White transfers the centre of the world to the extreme Queenside. 26. ... Rxg4+ 27. Kf1 Bh2 28. Ke2 Rb4 29. Ra2 Kf7 30. Re3 Rc8 31. b3 d4 32. Rd3 Be5 33. a6 Ke6 34. Ra5 Kd6? A mistake such as happens frequently in rapid games. Correct was 34. ... Bc7! 35. Rc5 Kd7 36. Rd5+ Kc6 37. R5xd4 Rxd4 38. Bxd4 Kb5 with a drawish ending.

35. f4! A killer move! The tempting “win” 35. Bc5+? Rxc5 36. Rxc5 Kxc5 37. a7 would have been disappointed by 37. ... Rb8! with a draw. 35. ... Bf6 36. Bc5+! That’s time! 36. ... Rxc5 37. Rxc5 Rb8. Of course on 37. ... Kxc5 38. a7 wins. 38. Ra5 Kc6 39. b4 Kb6 40. Rda3 Ka7 41. Rc5 Bd8 42. Rd5 Bf6 43. b5 Kb6 44. a7 Ra8 45. Ra6+ Kb7 46. Rd7+ Kc8 47. Rf7 1 : 0.

北京 (Beijīng), November 10, 2014. Opening Ceremony of the 4th SportAccord World Mind Games. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) waiting for Santa Claus. Photo: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng).

第三

Pia Cramling – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 11, 2014

English Opening A13

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 f5 (4. ... c5!?) 5. 0-0 Nf6 6. b3 Be7 7. Bb2 0-0 8. Qc2. The alternative is 8. d4 Qc8 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. d5 Bf6 11. Nd4! as in the game Wl. Schmidt – Augustin, Halle 1976. 8. ... a5 9. Nc3 Na6 10. a3 Qe8 11. d3 Qh5 12. Ne5 Ng4 13. Nxg4 Bxg2 14. Nh6+ Qxh6 15. Kxg2 f4 16. d4 Rf5 17. g4. If 17. Bc1 then 17. ... g5 18. f3 Raf8 with consequences similar to those in the game. 17. ... Rf7 18. f3 Qh4 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. Qe1 Qh6 21. Rd1 d5 22. Bc1 Qg6 23. e4. A committal move. After 23. Qd2 c6 24. Qd3 Nc7 the game looks quite even. 23. ... fxe3 24. Qe2 Nb8 25. a4 Bg5 26. Nb5 h5 27. gxh5 Qh6 28. Rd3 c6 29. Na3 Na6 30. Nc2 e5 31. Bxe3 exd4 32. Bxd4 c5 33. Bf2 d4 34. Re1 Re7 35. Qf1 Rde8 36. Rdd1 Qxh5 37. Qd3 Bf4 38. Bg3? A blunder, but also after 38. h4 Be5! (intending ... Na6-c7-e6-f4+) White stands very badly.

38. ... Nb4! The winning move! 39. Nxb4 Bxg3 40. hxg3 Rxe1 41. Rxe1 Rxe1 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: blog.sina.com.cn

北京 (Beijīng), November 10, 2014. Opening Ceremony of the 4th SportAccord World Mind Games. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) posing as a princess. Photo: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng).

开幕式 (Opening Ceremony)

北京 (Beijīng), December 10, 2014. Opening Ceremony of the 4th SportAccord World Mind Games.

第二

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 11, 2014

Spanish C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Qe2 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bb3 Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Nf1 exd4 13. cxd4 Bf8 14. Ng3 Na5 15. Bc2 c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Bg5 Ng4 18. Rac1 Nc4 19. Bd3 Nge5 20. Bxc4 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 bxc4 22. Be3 Qe5 23. Bd4 Qe6 24. Qc3 Rac8 25. Qa5 Rc6 26. h3 Qg6 27. Rc3 Rb8 28. Re3 Rb5 29. Qd8 Qe6 30. Nf5 f6

31. Qa8 Qe8 32. Qxe8 Bxe8 33. Bc3 Rb7 34. Re2 Bd7 35. Ne3 Be6 36. f4 Rc8 37. Kf2 Be7 38. Kf3 Rb5 39. Nc2 Rb7 40. Nb4 Ra7 41. Nd5 Bxd5 42. Rxd5 Rb7 43. Ra5 Rc6 44. Rd2 Kf7 45. Ra4 Ke6 46. Rd4 Rbc7 47. f5+ Kd7 48. g4 Ke8 49. Ke2 Rc8 50. Kd1 Bd8 51. Kc2 Bb6 52. Rd5 Bf2 53. Bd4 Bg3 54. Rda5 Ra8 55. Rd5 Kf7 56. Ra3 Bh4 57. Bg1 Re8 58. Rd4 Be1 59. Ra4 c3 60. b3 h5 61. gxh5 Rh8 62. Rd3 Rxh5 63. Re3 Bd2 64. Rg3 Rh4 65. Be3 Rh5 66. Bxd2 cxd2+ 67. Kxd2 d5 68. exd5 Rd6 69. Rd4 Rxf5 70. Kc3 Rfxd5 71. Rxd5 Rxd5 72. Kc4 Re5 73. b4 g5 74. a4 Kg6 75. b5 axb5+ 76. axb5 f5 77. b6 f4 78. Rb3 Re8 79. b7 Rb8 80. Kd4 g4 81. hxg4 Kg5 82. Ke4 Kxg4 83. Rb1 Kg3 84. Rg1+ Kf2 85. Rg7 f3 86. Rf7 Ke2 87. Kd5 f2 88. Kc6 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: 张一平 (Zhāng Yīpíng)