Rebel Without a Cause

• Stefan Löffler, Hat Wei Yi keine Lobby? | Why is there no lobby for 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)?, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Blog, March 27, 2017

Why is there no lobby for 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)?, wonders Stefan Löffler. The Chinese wonder boy, 17, one of the world’s top 30 players, didn’t yet get almost no inviatation in high-class tournaments, neither abroad nor at home. The question is not trivial. Probably 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) is not supported by a “lobby” like that – let’s say – of 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), but maybe the real reason for the “embargo” (especially abroad) lies in his young age. I’d not exclude that Chinese officials may fear exposing such a young boy to the “bad” influences of his Western peers. Don’t think I’m joking.

韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
Photo: qipai.people.com.cn

Pole vault

Stefan Löffler (@StefanLoeffler)

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1. 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) is my player of the year. As the youngest ever he broke the 2700 bareer before completing his sixteenth birthday. His spectacular King hunt against Bruzón was probably the game of the year. He contributed the highest score of all participants to China becoming World Team Champion. He won the Chinese Championship, León and Wijk aan Zee, although the latter was only the B Group. The point is that Wéi was not invited to a single top tournament. It is a shame that the young Chinese player, who could well be the next World Champion, has been sidelined by the organisers. [Read more].

Stefan Löffler, My Players of the Year, Chess-News.ru, January 3, 2016

韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
Photo: blog.sina.com.cn