If nothing else, no matter what desolate world one has to live in, there is still a travelling oasis, a sweet harbour of consolation for the thirsty wanderers in the desert. Photo: 9m88 via 愷 (@kyleangusssss). |
Saturday, September 6, 2025
A Streetcar Named Desire
Friday, September 5, 2025
A Queen’s Story
Four-time Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will be one of the chess stars vying for 24 gold medals at the 15th National Games which are going to take place from September to November 2025 in 罗湖区 (Luóhú District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) just confirmed her status as women’s world No. 1 with a perfect 6–0 score in the Chinese League. Screenshot from CCTV. |
Red Chanel
Singer, songwriter, and actress 9m88 wears a striking Chanel dress for the red carpet of 女孩 (Nǚhái) (Girl) at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 4, 2025. Video via 9m88. |
Thursday, September 4, 2025
The Magic Carpet
Singer, songwriter, and actress 9m88 on the red carpet for the premiere of 女孩 (Nǚhái) (Girl) at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 4, 2025. Photos: Jacopo Salvi/La Biennale di Venezia. |
A Woman of Genius
Singer, songwriter, and actress 9m88 at the press conference for the premiere of 女孩 (Nǚhái) (Girl) at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 4, 2025. “Girl is set in 1998. I was born in 1990. I remember that, in those days, women still lived under a burden”, she said. “They were dependent on their male partners, doubting they could do anything without them. When I came across the character I was going to play, I immediately thought she was very fascinating: she’s a mother who doesn’t know herself and is trying to figure it all out”. |
Venetian Views
Singer, songwriter, and actress 9m88 shines at the photocall for 女孩 (Nǚhái) (Girl) at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 4, 2025. Photo: Karen Di Paola. |
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Blue Moon
9m88 performing live Plastic Love at 青山月見ル君想フ (MoonRomantic), 東京都 (Tokyo), Japan, on January 9, 2018. |
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The World of Yesterday
Sonja Graf – Clarice Benini
International Women’s Chess Tournament; Semmering, July 5, 1936
Queen’s Pawn Game D02
Notes by Master Heinrich Wolf, Neues Wiener Abendblatt, No. 194, July 16, 1936. p. 8.
International Women’s Chess Tournament; Semmering, July 5, 1936
Queen’s Pawn Game D02
Notes by Master Heinrich Wolf, Neues Wiener Abendblatt, No. 194, July 16, 1936. p. 8.
The first International Women’s Chess Tournament at Semmering was won in dominant fashion by Miss Sonja Graf from Germany. The following game, played in the fourth round on July 5, is an example of her clear, positionally founded play, which many of her male colleagues would envy:
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c6 3. Nf3 Bf5. Italian player should not have missed the opportunity of gaining a tempo with 3. ... Qb6!, whereupon White is compelled to play 4. b3 or 4. Qc1.
4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. e3 e6 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. c4 Rc8. She ought first to play 9. ... h6 so as to prevent the Queen’s Bishop from being exchanged after Nf3-h4.
10. Nh4 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. h3. White stands slightly better due to her Bishop pair. However, Italian woman master handles the ensuing middlegame with remarkable ingenuity and succeeds in maintaining the equilibrium until the endgame.
12. ... c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Bg3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Nc4 Qe7 18. Qd4 Qf6. This Queen exchange offer was not so urgent. 18. ... Rfd8 seems to be much better.
19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Rac1 Rxd6. On 21. ... b6 22. Nb5! would be very uncomfortable for Black.
22. Rxc5 Rfd8 23. Bf3 b6 24. Rc4 f5 25. Rd1 Nf6 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. Rc2 Kf8 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Rc7+ Rd7 30. Rc8 Nd5 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Rc7+ Rd7 33. Rxd7+ Kxd7. German matador exchanged all pieces for a good reason, because only in a pure Pawn endgame she can hope to take advantage of her sounder Pawn constellation.
34. Ke2 Kd6 35. Kd3 Kd5 36. h4 e5 37. Kc3 Kc5
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c6 3. Nf3 Bf5. Italian player should not have missed the opportunity of gaining a tempo with 3. ... Qb6!, whereupon White is compelled to play 4. b3 or 4. Qc1.
4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. e3 e6 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. c4 Rc8. She ought first to play 9. ... h6 so as to prevent the Queen’s Bishop from being exchanged after Nf3-h4.
10. Nh4 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. h3. White stands slightly better due to her Bishop pair. However, Italian woman master handles the ensuing middlegame with remarkable ingenuity and succeeds in maintaining the equilibrium until the endgame.
12. ... c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Bg3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Nc4 Qe7 18. Qd4 Qf6. This Queen exchange offer was not so urgent. 18. ... Rfd8 seems to be much better.
19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Rac1 Rxd6. On 21. ... b6 22. Nb5! would be very uncomfortable for Black.
22. Rxc5 Rfd8 23. Bf3 b6 24. Rc4 f5 25. Rd1 Nf6 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. Rc2 Kf8 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Rc7+ Rd7 30. Rc8 Nd5 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Rc7+ Rd7 33. Rxd7+ Kxd7. German matador exchanged all pieces for a good reason, because only in a pure Pawn endgame she can hope to take advantage of her sounder Pawn constellation.
34. Ke2 Kd6 35. Kd3 Kd5 36. h4 e5 37. Kc3 Kc5
38. e4!! fxe4 39. g4 Kd5 40. h5 gxh5 41. gxh5 Ke6 42. Kc4 Kf6 43. Kd5 Kg5 44. Kxe5 Kxh5 45. Kxe4 Kg4 46. f4 f6! 47. b3
47. ... a6? So far, both sides had handled the difficult endgame well, but here 47. ... b5 should have been played, after which a win for White would no longer be possible. Let us suppose, for example: 48. b4 Kg3 48. Kf5 Kxf3 50. Kxf6 Kxf4 51. Ke6 Ke4 52. Kd6 Kd4 53. Kc6 Kc4 54. a3 Kb3! with a draw.
48. b4 Kg3 49. Kf5 Kf3 50. a3! a5. Other moves cannot save the game either.
51. b5 a4 52. Kxf6 1–0.
48. b4 Kg3 49. Kf5 Kf3 50. a3! a5. Other moves cannot save the game either.
51. b5 a4 52. Kxf6 1–0.
Monday, September 1, 2025
The AI Reality of Being
On false relations
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, September 1, 2025
A good definition of political power is that that characterises it as the art to put people in false relations to each another. This, and nothing else, is what, first and foremost, power does in order to then govern them as it wishes. Once they have allowed themselves to be led into oblique relations in which they cannot recognise themselves, they can be easily manipulated and oriented as one likes. If they so easily believe the lies they are being offered, it is because false are, first and foremost, the relations in which, without them realising it, they always already found themselves.
The first move in a political strategy worthy of its name is therefore the search for a way out of the false relations in which power has put people in order to govern them. But just this is not easy, because a false relation is exactly what from what one sees no way out. Something like a way out becomes possible only if we understand that the false relation is the very form of power, that to be in a false relation means to be in a relation of power. That is, the relation is false not because we lie, but because we lack awareness of its essentially political character. Whether relations that are apparently intimate and private or those technically or socially definite are in truth always already political — that is, we find ourselves in false relations from the beginning — this awareness is the only way to change at the root our way to live through them.
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, September 1, 2025
A good definition of political power is that that characterises it as the art to put people in false relations to each another. This, and nothing else, is what, first and foremost, power does in order to then govern them as it wishes. Once they have allowed themselves to be led into oblique relations in which they cannot recognise themselves, they can be easily manipulated and oriented as one likes. If they so easily believe the lies they are being offered, it is because false are, first and foremost, the relations in which, without them realising it, they always already found themselves.
The first move in a political strategy worthy of its name is therefore the search for a way out of the false relations in which power has put people in order to govern them. But just this is not easy, because a false relation is exactly what from what one sees no way out. Something like a way out becomes possible only if we understand that the false relation is the very form of power, that to be in a false relation means to be in a relation of power. That is, the relation is false not because we lie, but because we lack awareness of its essentially political character. Whether relations that are apparently intimate and private or those technically or socially definite are in truth always already political — that is, we find ourselves in false relations from the beginning — this awareness is the only way to change at the root our way to live through them.
(English translation by I, Robot)
鈴木 達朗 (Tatsuo Suzuki), Connection, 2014. Photo © 鈴木 達朗 (Tatsuo Suzuki). Courtesy of International Photography Awards. |
Strength and Beauty
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 王秦萱逸 (Wáng Qínxuānyì)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–杭州棋类协会队 (Hángzhōu Chess and Card Association); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), September 1, 2025
Sicilian Defence B23
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nf3 a6 5. Bd3 e6 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. Nd5 exd5. Very interesting is 7. ... g5 8. Nxg5 exd5 9. Qh5 Ne5 10. exd5 d6 11. f4 Bg4 12. Qh4 h6∞ Caruana – Narodistky, Late-Titled-Tuesday-Blitz-May-20-2025, chess.com, May 20, 2025 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
8. exd5 Nb4. No good is 8. ... Qf6 9. dxc6 dxc6 10. Re1+ Ne7 11. Ne5 Be6 12. b3 Nd5 13. Bb2 Qg5 14. Qf3 Nf6 15. Bc4 Be7 16. Nxc6+− Kravtsiv – Zienkiewicz, Early-Titled-Tuesday-Blitz-April-01-2025, chess.com, April 1, 2025 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
9. Re1+ Ne7 10. d6 Nxd3 11. cxd3 Qb6 12. dxe7 Bxe7
8. exd5 Nb4. No good is 8. ... Qf6 9. dxc6 dxc6 10. Re1+ Ne7 11. Ne5 Be6 12. b3 Nd5 13. Bb2 Qg5 14. Qf3 Nf6 15. Bc4 Be7 16. Nxc6+− Kravtsiv – Zienkiewicz, Early-Titled-Tuesday-Blitz-April-01-2025, chess.com, April 1, 2025 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
9. Re1+ Ne7 10. d6 Nxd3 11. cxd3 Qb6 12. dxe7 Bxe7
13. b4! d6? The Pawn cannot be captured now, either by the Queen (13. ... Qxb4?? 14. Qe2+−) or the Pawn (13. ... cxb4 14. Bb2→), but Black misses the chance here to put the King safe in the castle: 13. ... 0-0! for if 14. Rxe7 then 14. ... Qf6 forking both Rooks and thus winning the Exchange.
14. bxc5 dxc5 15. d4 Be6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. d4 Qd6 18. Bg5 Rd8 19. Qc2 h6? Black still could not castle (19. ... 0-0? 20. d5!+−), but the text move is also bad as it allows White to deliver a mating attack. Correct was 19. ... f6! 20. Re3 0-0 21. Rae1 Bd5 22. Rxe7 Bxf3 23. Bh6 Rd7 with a tenable defence.
14. bxc5 dxc5 15. d4 Be6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. d4 Qd6 18. Bg5 Rd8 19. Qc2 h6? Black still could not castle (19. ... 0-0? 20. d5!+−), but the text move is also bad as it allows White to deliver a mating attack. Correct was 19. ... f6! 20. Re3 0-0 21. Rae1 Bd5 22. Rxe7 Bxf3 23. Bh6 Rd7 with a tenable defence.
20. Rxe6! fxe6 (20. ... Qxe6 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Re1+−)
21. Qg6+ Kf8 (21. ... Kd7 22. Rc1 hxg5 23. Ne5++−)
22. Ne5 Kg8 23. Qf7+ Kh7 24. Bxe7 Qxd4 25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Qxe6+ Kh7 27. Qg6+ Kg8 28. Rf1 1–0.
21. Qg6+ Kf8 (21. ... Kd7 22. Rc1 hxg5 23. Ne5++−)
22. Ne5 Kg8 23. Qf7+ Kh7 24. Bxe7 Qxd4 25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Qxe6+ Kh7 27. Qg6+ Kg8 28. Rf1 1–0.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has consolidated her position as women’s world No. 1 with a perfect 6–0 score in the Regular stage of the Chinese League. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). |
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Lectio magistralis
鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 31, 2025
French Defence C01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. Bg5?! More advisable is 9. Nbd2, after which there might follow (by transposition) 9. ... Nc6 10. Nb3 Bd6 11. h3 h6 12. Re1 a5 13. a4 Bd7 as in 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Bobrowska-Soćko, 2nd SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Blitz Tournament, 北京 (Běijīng) 2012 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).
9. ... h6! 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3. Dubious would be 11. Nxg5?! hxg5 12. Bxg5 Qd6! 13. Qf3 Nbd7 leaving White with insufficient compensation for the sacrificed Knight.
11. ... Ne4 12. Nbd2 f5 13. Bxb8 Rxb8 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. c4 Qf6 16. cxd5 Qxb2 17. Nfd2 Bd7
9. ... h6! 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3. Dubious would be 11. Nxg5?! hxg5 12. Bxg5 Qd6! 13. Qf3 Nbd7 leaving White with insufficient compensation for the sacrificed Knight.
11. ... Ne4 12. Nbd2 f5 13. Bxb8 Rxb8 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. c4 Qf6 16. cxd5 Qxb2 17. Nfd2 Bd7
18. Rb1. White (perhaps unnecessarily) gives back her Pawn to move the Black Queen away from the a1-h8 diagonal (assuming it is of any use to her). Likewise after 18. a4 Nc3 19. Qh5 Nxa4 20. Qxh6 Qf6 Black has nothing to worry about. Therefore, White could play at once 18. Bxe4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qe5 with more chances for her to hold than in the game.
18. ... Qxa2 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Bf5 21. Ra1 Qb2 22. Nec5 Qe5 23. Qh5? This aggressive sortie will soon turn into a boomerang. 23. Ra2 was a more meaningful way of going on.
23. ... Rf6! 24. Rad1 Rbf8 25. Rd2? For fear of ... Bf5-c2, but the cure is worse than the disease. A little better was 25. h4, but even then after 25. ... Bc2 25. Rd2 Bxb3 26. Nxb3 Kg7 Black dominates the board.
25. ... Bxc5 26. Nxc5 Qc3. Winning material. The rest is easy.
27. Rfd1 Qxc5 28. d6 Bd7 29. Kh1 Qc4 30. Rd5. Desperation.
30. ... Bg4 31. Rxg5+ hxg5 32. Qxg5+ Kh7 33. Rc1
18. ... Qxa2 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Bf5 21. Ra1 Qb2 22. Nec5 Qe5 23. Qh5? This aggressive sortie will soon turn into a boomerang. 23. Ra2 was a more meaningful way of going on.
23. ... Rf6! 24. Rad1 Rbf8 25. Rd2? For fear of ... Bf5-c2, but the cure is worse than the disease. A little better was 25. h4, but even then after 25. ... Bc2 25. Rd2 Bxb3 26. Nxb3 Kg7 Black dominates the board.
25. ... Bxc5 26. Nxc5 Qc3. Winning material. The rest is easy.
27. Rfd1 Qxc5 28. d6 Bd7 29. Kh1 Qc4 30. Rd5. Desperation.
30. ... Bg4 31. Rxg5+ hxg5 32. Qxg5+ Kh7 33. Rc1
33. ... Rxf2! 34. Qe7+ R8f7 35. Qh4+ Kg6 0–1.
Praeceptrix Chinae 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) taught her young opponent a hard lesson. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). |
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Hy
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 任肖伊 (Rèn Xiàoyī)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–成都蓓蕾队 (Chéngdū Bèilěi Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 30, 2025
Giuoco Piano C50
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 h6 5. Nc3 d6 6. a3 Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8.
Na4 Bb6 9. b4 Qf6 10. c4 Bd4 11. Ra2 Nge7 12. Be3 Ng6 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Nxd4
Nxd4 15. f3 Rf7 16. g3 Raf8 17. Raf2 Qe7 18. f4 Qd7 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Nb2
Kh7 21. Qh5 c6 22. c5 d5 23. Qe2 b5 24. Re1 Rf6 25. Nd1 dxe4 26. dxe4 R6f7
27. Nb2 Ne5 28. Rg2 d3 29. Qe3
29. ... g5! 30. Rf1. Taking the Knight would not lead to any advantage; for example: 30. fxe5 Rf3 31. Qc1 Qd4+ 32. Kh1 Rf2 33. Nxd3 Qxd3 34. Qd1! Rf1+ 36. Rg1 Rxg1+ 37. Kxg1 Qc3 with fairly even chances.
30. ... g4? This is too ambitious. Black had to play 30. ... Nc4 at once, for after 31. Qxd3 Qxd3 32. Nxd3 Ne3 the win of the Exchange is sufficient for her to hold the ending: 33. Ne5 Rg7 34. Rf3 Nxg2 35. Kxg2 gxf4 36. Nxc6 e5 37. Kf2 fxg3+ 38. hxg3 Re8 39. Rf5 Re6 40. Nd8 Ree7 41. Nc6 Re6 with a draw by repetition.
31. Rd2
30. ... g4? This is too ambitious. Black had to play 30. ... Nc4 at once, for after 31. Qxd3 Qxd3 32. Nxd3 Ne3 the win of the Exchange is sufficient for her to hold the ending: 33. Ne5 Rg7 34. Rf3 Nxg2 35. Kxg2 gxf4 36. Nxc6 e5 37. Kf2 fxg3+ 38. hxg3 Re8 39. Rf5 Re6 40. Nd8 Ree7 41. Nc6 Re6 with a draw by repetition.
31. Rd2
31. ... Nc4? Now this move causes the whole of Black’s Pawn outposts to collapse. Comparatively better was 31. ... Nf3+, but then after 32. Rxf3 gxf3 33. Rxd3 followed by the capture of the f3-Pawn White remains with two Pawns for the Exchange and a strong advantage in position.
32. Nxc4 bxc4 33. Rc1 e5 34. f5 a5 35. Rxc4 axb4 36. Rxd3 Qa7 37. axb4. White came up with two Pawns ahead and an easily won ending.
37. ... Rd7 38. Rxd7+ Qxd7 39. Qe2 Ra8 40. Kg2 Ra1 41. Rc2 h5 42. Rd2 Qa7 43. Qd3 Ra2 44. h3 Qf7 45. hxg4 hxg4 46. Qe2 Rxd2 47. Qxd2 Qa7 48. Qe2 Qg7 49. Qd1 Kh6? It is as bad a way as another to surrender.
50. Qh1+ 1–0. Mate follows after 50. ... Kg5 51. Qh4#.
32. Nxc4 bxc4 33. Rc1 e5 34. f5 a5 35. Rxc4 axb4 36. Rxd3 Qa7 37. axb4. White came up with two Pawns ahead and an easily won ending.
37. ... Rd7 38. Rxd7+ Qxd7 39. Qe2 Ra8 40. Kg2 Ra1 41. Rc2 h5 42. Rd2 Qa7 43. Qd3 Ra2 44. h3 Qf7 45. hxg4 hxg4 46. Qe2 Rxd2 47. Qxd2 Qa7 48. Qe2 Qg7 49. Qd1 Kh6? It is as bad a way as another to surrender.
50. Qh1+ 1–0. Mate follows after 50. ... Kg5 51. Qh4#.
The implacable 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) coasted her fourth win in a row. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). |
Friday, August 29, 2025
Through the Sunshine
孙方卉 (Sūn Fānghuì) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 重庆九龙坡队 (Chóngqìng Jiǔlóngpō Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 29, 2025
Sicilian Defence B81
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 e5 7. Nf5 g6 8. Ne3 Nc6 9. g5. 9. h3!? Be6 10. Ned5 Bg7 11. Be3 0-0 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. 0-0-0 led to interesting play in R. J. Fischer – Lister, 50-board simultaneous exhibition, Toronto 1964.
9. ... Nh5 10. Ned5 Bg7 11. Be3 0-0 12. Be2?! A preferable approach is 12. Qd2 f5 13. gxf6 Nxf6 14. 0-0-0 as recently seen in Zuferi – Möller, 34th German Blitz Championship, Munich 2025 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).
9. ... Nh5 10. Ned5 Bg7 11. Be3 0-0 12. Be2?! A preferable approach is 12. Qd2 f5 13. gxf6 Nxf6 14. 0-0-0 as recently seen in Zuferi – Möller, 34th German Blitz Championship, Munich 2025 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).
12. ... Nf4! 13. Nxf4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Re8 15. Qd2 Bxc3! 16. Qxc3? A ruinous mistake. Necessary was 16. bxc3 Rxe4 17. f3 reserving, in extreme cases, the square at f2 for the King.
16. ... Rxe4 17. Qd2. If 17. Be3 then 17. ... d5 with an overwhelming initiative.
17. ... Nd4 18. Be3 Nxe2 19. Qxe2 Bg4 20. Qb5. Or 20. f3 Qa5+ 21. Kf2 Rae8 winning easily.
20. ... Rc8 21. c3 Rc5 22. Qd3 Qe7 23. Kd2
16. ... Rxe4 17. Qd2. If 17. Be3 then 17. ... d5 with an overwhelming initiative.
17. ... Nd4 18. Be3 Nxe2 19. Qxe2 Bg4 20. Qb5. Or 20. f3 Qa5+ 21. Kf2 Rae8 winning easily.
20. ... Rc8 21. c3 Rc5 22. Qd3 Qe7 23. Kd2
23. ... Bf5! 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Rag1 Re6 26. Qf3 Qd7+ 27. Kc1 Qa4 0–1.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is showing herself in splendid form. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). |
Thursday, August 28, 2025
An Irresistible Light
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 王楚乔 (Wáng Chǔqiáo)
19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–重庆体育彩票队 (Chóngqìng Sports Lottery Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 南京 (Nánjīng), August 28, 2025
French Defence C11
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. a3 Qb6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Na4 Qa5+ 11. b4 Qxa4 12. bxc5 f6 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Bd3 0-0 15. 0-0 Bd7
16. Rb1 Rab8 17. Qc1 Qa5 18. Kh1 Qc7 19. c4 Ng4 20. Bd2 d4 21. Qe1 h6 22. Qg3 Nf6 23. Ne5 Ne7 24. Qh3 Nf5 25. Kg1 h5 26. Qf3 Rfd8 27. Qe2 Be8 28. Ng4 Qf7 29. Nxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rb6 Bc6 31. Qxh5 Ne3 32. Rf2 Kf8 33. Qe2 Ke7 34. Rb1 Nf5 35. Re1 Rh8 36. Qe5 Qxe5 37. Rxe5 Kf6 38. Rfe2 Bd7 39. Bc1 Rbd8 40. Bb2 Bc8 41. g3 Kf7 42. Kg2 Ne3+ 43. Kg1 Nf5 44. Bc1 Bd7 45. Be4
45. ... Bc6? Much better was 45. ... d3! 46. Rd2 Nd4 47. Bb2 Bc6 48. Rxd3 Ne2+ 49. Kf1 Rxd3 50. Bxd3 Nxg3+! 51. hxg3 Rh1+ 52. Ke2 Rh2+ 53. Ke3 Rxb2 54. Kd4 Rd2! 55. Re2 Rd1 making White’s extra Pawn pretty near worthless.
46. Bxf5 exf5 47. Rxf5+ Kg6 48. Rg5+ Kf7 49. Bb2 Rd7 50. Rd2 Rhd8 51. Kf2 g6 52. h4 Be4 53. h5 gxh5 54. Rxh5 Kg6 55. g4 Bc6 56. Kg3 Kf6 57. f5 Kg7 58. Kf4 Kg8 59. Rdh2 1–0.
46. Bxf5 exf5 47. Rxf5+ Kg6 48. Rg5+ Kf7 49. Bb2 Rd7 50. Rd2 Rhd8 51. Kf2 g6 52. h4 Be4 53. h5 gxh5 54. Rxh5 Kg6 55. g4 Bc6 56. Kg3 Kf6 57. f5 Kg7 58. Kf4 Kg8 59. Rdh2 1–0.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was simply irresistible as she sat, shining in her strength. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). |
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