Hou Yifan

Chess Player

Chinese Xinghua, Jiangsu, China

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Quick Info

ProfessionChess Player
NationalityChinese
Date of Birth27/02/1994
Age32 years
BirthplaceXinghua, Jiangsu, China

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Bio/Wiki

Physical Stats
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Chess TitleGrandmaster (2008)
FIDE Rating2596 (March 2026)
Peak Rating2686 (March 2015)
Peak RankingNo. 55 (May 2015)
Women's World Champion
  • 2010–2012
  • 2013–2015
  • 2016–2017

Physical Stats & More

Food HabitNon-vegetarian

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolHomeschooled
College/University
  • Peking University, Beijing, China
  • University of Oxford, United States
Degrees
  • Bachelor's of Arts from Peking University, Beijing, China
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP) from University of Oxford, United States

Relationships & More

Marital StatusUnmarried

Family

Parents
FatherHou Xuejian (a magistrate)
MotherWang Qian (a former nurse)

Career

Starting Age3
First Chess SetAt 5 years old, she began learning chess from IM Tong Yuanming
First ChampionshipWorld Youth Chess Championship under ten category
Notable Achievements
  • Woman Grandmaster norm in 2005
  • Youngest national champion of China in June 2007
  • Participated in various international tournaments and championships
  • Youngest female player to qualify for Grandmaster title at age 14 years, 6 months
  • Youngest Women's World Chess Champion at age 16 in 2010
  • Second-highest rated female player of all time
  • Professor at Peking University
  • Youngest full professor at Shenzhen University’s School of Physical Education in 2020
  • Led China to gold medal at Asian Games in 2023

Favourites

Favorite Chess PlayerBobby Fischer
Favorite Opening TechniqueSicilian Defense

Social Media

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/yf_hou/

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. At the age of three, developed an interest in chess.
2. Recognized as an exceptional talent in her early years.
3. Enjoys reading books in her free time.
4. Has expressed chess as a hobby rather than a career.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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