Five-time Women's World Chess Champion Grandmaster Ju Wenjun, who successfully defended her title just last week, made a momentous visit to Hong Kong. Lingnan University, in collaboration with the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, co-organised a welcome event and chess exhibition match, where Ju engaged with Lingnan students and local chess enthusiasts. Accompanying her was her coach, Grandmaster Ni Hua. During this event, the Hong Kong China Chess Federation also announced the upcoming Asian Amateur Chess Championships, set to take place in August 2025. Ju has been invited as the guest of honour to witness this significant occasion.

Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing at Lingnan University warmly welcomed GM Ju Wenjun to Hong Kong. In his speech, he said, “Lingnan University is proud to co-host this high-calibre international chess exchange as it aligns with our mission to promote liberal arts education and global engagement.  One of our University's core values is whole-person cultivation, and we encourage students to pursue independent thinking, creativity, and innovation. I look forward to seeing participants’ direct interactions with a five-time World Chess Champion today to foster inspiration and cultural dialogue, ultimately supporting personal development and broadening global perspectives.”

Prof Chan added that Lingnan University is actively promoting sports development and has set up numerous scholarships to assist exceptional athletes in balancing academic and athletic pursuits. The School of Interdisciplinary Studies offers the “Entrance Scholarships for Student Athletes” and “Outstanding Performance Scholarship for Elite Athlete” to reward athletes who excel in local and international competitions.

During the sharing session, GM Ju Wenjun expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the warm welcome from the Hong Kong China Chess Federation and local chess players. Reflecting on her own journey as a young chess player, she encouraged attendees to relax and fully enjoy the game. “Having participated in the Asian Rapid Chess Team Championship last August, I found Hong Kong to be a beautiful city with high standards of events and venues. I am excited about the upcoming Asian Amateur Chess Championships at Tung Po and look forward to new surprises.”

One of the participants in the exhibition match, Mr Everado Blanco Livera, a PhD student at Lingnan University, shared his thoughts: “The event allowed people from different backgrounds and ages to interact and play chess with GM Ju Wenjun. Through her sharing, I learnt that persistence and perseverance are the keys to achieving our goals. As long as we continue to improve and stay focused, we will be successful sooner or later. The valuable experience of this match also made me realise that chess is not only an enjoyable sport but also helps strengthen our analytical and evaluation skills and trains us to think under time pressure and contextual constraints of a match.”

Mr Robin Lai, Vice President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, expressed gratitude for GM Ju Wenjun’s participation in the exhibition match. He stated, “This event not only promises excitement but also provides a valuable opportunity for Ms Ju to engage with chess enthusiasts and young players. We hope this will inspire more youth to immerse themselves in the world of chess and pursue their own chess aspirations.”

The Asian Amateur Chess Championships will run from August 1 to 9 at the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals’ Tung Po Centre. Following last year’s successful Asian Rapid Chess Team Championship, this event is expected to attract hundreds of participants, with a total prize pool of HKD 289,500. The competition will feature both open and women’s categories, including divisions for U1700, U2000, U2300, as well as rapid and blitz tournaments.

Held successfully on 23 April, the event brought this meaningful exchange to a perfect close.