A Portrait in Time

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) portrayed by 上海 (Shànghǎi)-based freelance photographer Tim Franco, whose pictures accompanied the article that TIME dedicated to her on May 17, 2018. Photo: Tim Franco.

An outfit for special occasions

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) posing for TIME. Photos: Tim Franco for TIME.

深圳航空 (Shēnzhèn Airlines)

On the morning of June 24, 2018 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made her triumphal return from the Far West and was gloriously received by the municipal Party leaders as well as the Mass Organizations Work and Publicity Department Director 余秋婵 (Yú Qiūchán) in 龙城街道 (Lóngchéng Subdistrict), 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), northeastern 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China. In the welcoming ceremony, attended by a large audience of admirers, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who on the occasion was wearing a summer dinner dress, did not save herself from the attentions of her fans. In a world of uncertainties, however, there’s one certainty: as it was already stated on the occasion of her TIME photoshoot, the Pawn continues to be her favourite chessman. No Pawn, indeed, will ever turn itself into a King. All photos: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/Sina Sports.

A Room with a View

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) taking pictures with her young admirers immediately after the end of her lecture at the Mechanics’ Institute Library & Chess Room – the oldest continuously running chess club in the United States – in San Francisco, California in the evening of May 22, 2018. Photo © Elliott Winslow. Eyewitness account and more pictures at: http://www.chessdryad.com/photos/sanfran/yifan/index.htm.

One Hour and the Next

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s guest appearance at the Mechanics’ Institute Library & Chess Room in San Francisco, California, United States on May 22, 2018. The caption of the pictures above – which are the corollary of the previous one – is by renejr11: “Honoured to have met the current #1 ranked woman chess player in the world, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). She’s a [4]x Women’s World Champion. She won her first Championship in 2010 at age 16. I loved being in a room filled with chess enthusiasts, at the oldest running chess club in the United States, to hear her speak for a hour. (I lost my autographed flyer on my way to the station but at least I took a picture of it 😅)”. Photos and video by renejr11.

And so save the date! On Sunday, June 10, 2018, 15,30–17,30 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will give a twenty-board simultaneous exhibition at King’s Land Chess in San Ramon, California, United States. Admittance to young players only. Seats are limited. Registration via e-mail to kingslandchess@hotmail.com or through 微信 (WeChat) at “kikichess”.

学术计时法 (Academic quarter)

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) lecturing on her life and career at the Mechanics’ Institute Library & Chess Room – the oldest continuously running chess club in the United States – in San Francisco, California in the evening of May 22, 2018. Photo: Tejas Dharamsi (@DharamsiTejas).

One Hour

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s guest appearance at the Mechanics’ Institute Library & Chess Room in San Francisco, California, United States on May 22, 2018. The caption of the picture above is by renejr11: “Honoured to have met the current #1 ranked woman chess player in the world, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). She’s a [4]x Women’s World Champion. She won her first Championship in 2010 at age 16. I loved being in a room filled with chess enthusiasts, at the oldest running chess club in the United States, to hear her speak for a hour. (I lost my autographed flyer on my way to the station but at least I took a picture of it 😅)”. Photo: renejr11.

閃亮的馬鞍 (Blazing Saddles)

• Charlie Campbell, Blazing a Trail, TIME, May 17, 2018

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) posing for TIME. Since her favourite chessman appears to be the Pawn, it’s very likely she’s not looking forward to promoting to a King. Photos: Tim Franco for TIME.

Timing is Everything

TIME has included four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in its list of Next Generation Leaders, a biannual franchise produced in partnership with Rolex featuring young people who make history in the world.

From left: Sonita Alizadeh, Adwoa Aboah, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), so as they appear in the May 28, 2018 issue of TIME. Photo: time.com.