Hou Yifan

Hou Yifan was born in China in 1994 and learned chess at five. In 2008 she earned the unrestricted grandmaster title at 14 years, 6 months, and 2 days. It is the highest standard international title awarded by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, and is not limited by gender.

In 2010 she won the Women's World Championship at age 16, becoming its youngest champion. She won the title again in 2011, 2013, and 2016. Those four victories came during a cycle that alternated direct matches and knockout tournaments, where losing a head-to-head contest can eliminate a player. They therefore did not form one uninterrupted reign.

Hou also sought strong opposition in open events, where players of any gender may compete, and produced elite results against grandmasters. That part of her career invites comparison with Judit Polgár, although they followed different paths. After 2016, Hou stepped away from the title cycle and combined selected competition with an academic career. Ju Wenjun became the central champion of the next period.