Bicontinental Chess Match in Chilean Patagonia and Antarctica

Punta Arenas February 5-12, 2016


GM Hou Yifan Helps Promote Chess in Chile

GM Hou Yifan has helped Chilean organizers promote chess in Chile with activities in Santiago and Punta Arenas. The event started with an opening ceremony hosted by the Minister of Sports and a simultaneous exhibition in Santiago, Chile.



GM Hou Yifan and IM Cristobal Henriquez played a 4 games match in Patagonia, which ended with 2.5 — 1.5 score in favor of the best woman chess player in the world.



As part of the event, the main feature of the match was a game that was to be played in Antarctica. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to bad weather conditions that could have made the trip unsafe for the players and the 4 persons accompanying them to cover the event.



The match was widely covered in the Chilean press and broadcasted live. GM Hou Yifan was a delightful guest and was invited to return to Chile again.



In the closing ceremony, the Mayor of Punta Arenas, Emilio Boccazzi explained that the weather conditions had not been optimal for travel to Antarctica and that on several occasions, even some presidents of Chile have attempted trips to Antarctica and had to turn back due to challenging and unpredictable weather conditions.

This did not deter the players from enjoying other activities in the Chilean Patagonia. Visits to Fuerte Bulnes, the Magdalena (Penguin) Island and the Ship Cemetery in the Strait of Magellan were a wonderful experience for the players.