Interview with three-time Women's World Champion Hou Yifan
Q: China is a world power in chess. What is the secret behind the success of your country?
A: We now have a lot of young and talented chessplayers. The men in particular progess very fast. Our men's team won the Olympiad 2014 and had a shining performance at the World Team Championships. They won a lot of board prizes. A lot depends on hard work, and they really train intensively. Before and during team events they prepared together for their games and have shown great team spirit.
Q: Does chess get strong support from the Chinese government?
A: Hmm... Well, yes. We have a national team which gets support. We do also have a national coach. Previously, there have always been training camps. Now it varies. As far as my person is concerned, there is less support.
Q: How are your relations to the previous Women World Champions from China: Xie Jun, Zhu Chen, and Xu Yuhua?
A: I admire the chess success of my predecessors on the throne. When one of them stopped to play, I just had started. They are or were my team mate, I see them as my sisters. We have very good relations. They support me and sometimes help me with advice.
Q: Who is your chess idol?
A: My idol as a chessplayer is Bobby Fischer.
Q: Can you tell us something about your private life?
A: My life is rather interesting, colorful, and full of surprises. Of course, chess is part of this but my life is not only chess. There are many other aspects, after all, at the moment I am still studying. I do have a number of hobbies and every day my life has something new to offer.
Q: But currently chess dominates?
A: Definitely. I would in fact like to play longer but there might be changes. I have no long-term plans for the future. Sometime, maybe in 15 years, I will no longer be a chess professional. But I hope I then will get a task that has to do with chess.
See the full interview.
Q: China is a world power in chess. What is the secret behind the success of your country?
A: We now have a lot of young and talented chessplayers. The men in particular progess very fast. Our men's team won the Olympiad 2014 and had a shining performance at the World Team Championships. They won a lot of board prizes. A lot depends on hard work, and they really train intensively. Before and during team events they prepared together for their games and have shown great team spirit.
Q: Does chess get strong support from the Chinese government?
A: Hmm... Well, yes. We have a national team which gets support. We do also have a national coach. Previously, there have always been training camps. Now it varies. As far as my person is concerned, there is less support.
Q: How are your relations to the previous Women World Champions from China: Xie Jun, Zhu Chen, and Xu Yuhua?
A: I admire the chess success of my predecessors on the throne. When one of them stopped to play, I just had started. They are or were my team mate, I see them as my sisters. We have very good relations. They support me and sometimes help me with advice.
Q: Who is your chess idol?
A: My idol as a chessplayer is Bobby Fischer.
Q: Can you tell us something about your private life?
A: My life is rather interesting, colorful, and full of surprises. Of course, chess is part of this but my life is not only chess. There are many other aspects, after all, at the moment I am still studying. I do have a number of hobbies and every day my life has something new to offer.
Q: But currently chess dominates?
A: Definitely. I would in fact like to play longer but there might be changes. I have no long-term plans for the future. Sometime, maybe in 15 years, I will no longer be a chess professional. But I hope I then will get a task that has to do with chess.
See the full interview.
RSS Feed