THE youngest ever female chess Grandmaster will arrive in Liverpool this weekend to pit her skills against the best British players in a historic match.
The city will be transformed into the chess capital of the world next week when 13-year-old Grandmaster Hou Yifan launches the 800th Anniversary Summit match.
Organisers say the match is the first in Britain for at least 100 years – since Britain played France at the turn of the century.
Organiser Professor David Robertson, from Liverpool John Moores University, predicts the events will attract around 10 million visitors to their website during the week.
He said bringing chess to Liverpool added a “different dimension to the city”, which would broaden its cultural basis and encourage more youngsters to take up the game.
He said: “This real- ly is a historic coup for the city. The 800th Annivers- ary Summit Match with China is the first match of its kind and some of the finest and most exciting players in the world will be here in Liverpool.
“This time, China is bringing a young team – average age 20 – with stars like Hou Yifan, who was the world’s youngest-ever Grandmaster, at the age of 12.
“She is already beating some of the best men and is clearly something special.”
The first game will see Hou Yifan take on 16-year-old David Howell, Britain’s youngest-ever Grandmaster, at 3pm on Tuesday with the first move being made by Liverpool’s Lord Mayor.
In addition to the summit match, the 800th Anniversary International Open is also being staged, attracting players from more than 20 countries to the stunning Concert Room at St George’s Hall.
Prof Robertson said: “The events at St George’s Hall follow last year’s successful EU tournament in the city, when Liverpool played host to the strongest championship held in Britain for 20 years.
“I cannot think of a more fitting setting for the competition than the Concert Room where the best girl player in the world will take on the best British boy.”
There are eight Chinese chess players taking part in the tournament, accompanied by their coach, a translator, a manager and also the Chinese ambassador.
All three of the female Chinese team are Olympic champions.
The UK team includes Michael Adams, Britain’s highest-ranked player ever, as well as Nigel Short, who won last year’s Liverpool event, and David Howell.
Prof Robertson added: “I would think China will start favourites – but chess and Liverpool will be the winners whatever the result.
“We are putting forward our strongest ever British team and really showcasing our own talent. This is a way of showing Liverpool to the rest of world as a place of high skills and high achievement. Chess is a massive game across the globe and this tournament will be watched by millions.
“It will show that Liverpool is not just about football and boxing, but is also about more refined and intellectual activities too.
“China has its very own chess university. Although we cannot compete with that at this stage, the publicity that this summit creates may encourage more of our city’s youngsters to take up the game. We are really setting a new trend here in Liverpool.
“Matches used to be played by the USA against the Soviet Union at World chess summits. We are trying to resurrect the concept as a friendship game.”
The UK/China Summit Match starts on Sept- ember 4 and runs to Sunday, September 9.
The International Open runs from 10am on Monday, Septem- ber 3 to Sunday September 9.
Both events are at St George’s Hall and spectators are welcome.
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