Tan Zhongyi stands out among elite chess players, a rare blend of sharp intellect, regional pride, and a philosophical bent. Lichess recently spoke with the 2024 Women’s Candidates winner and three-time World Championship runner-up. They discussed her “Chuanyu” spirit, an unintended spicy-food prank, and her acceptance of being labeled a “loser.”
1. The “Spicy” Mistake: A Mix-Up in Food Culture
Tan Zhongyi is from the Sichuan and Chongqing areas, which are famous around the world for their hot weather. Tan, on the other hand, likes her own food to be bland. But when Theo Wait from Lichess came to her hometown, she made a funny guess.
She assumed the presenter hailed from India and possessed a palate made of steel.
“I thought Indians loved spice,” she joked, remembering how she made him the most spicy stir-fries in the city. It was an unusual moment when the world felt “sharp,” though it hadn’t been planned.
2. Geography as Fate: The “Zhejiang” and “Chongqing” Styles
Tan has a very interesting idea: a player’s style is often a reflection of the history of their hometown.
She talks about Zhu Jinner and World Champion Ding Liren (who has recently retired from the game) as examples of the Stable Zhejiang School. They are from Zhejiang and represent stability and mental strength. They are stable on the outside, but they can make sudden, sharp strikes in the middle of a game.
Tan compares her own nature to that of Lei Tingjie, noting their shared ruthlessness. Chongqing, once a remote and difficult frontier, was a place that ancient officials often avoided. This environment of hardship, however, helped create a culture of great strength.
“You can tell right away that our style is sharp,” Tan says, connecting her aggressive play to the survivalist spirit of her ancestors.
3. The Vaishali Shock: “Stunned, Not Angry”
Even the strongest warriors have times when they are weak. Tan remembered losing to Vaishali Rameshbabu of India at the World Rapid Championships. Even though she was in a good position to win, she let the game get away from her.
She didn’t get angry; she just couldn’t believe it. “I wasn’t mad; I was shocked and a little embarrassed,” she said. It was a rare hole in the armour of a woman who has been the queen of Chinese chess for years.
4. A Philosophy for “Normal” People
Tan’s view on losing is probably the most interesting thing about her. Tan accepts the fact that losing is a part of the game, even though many people are obsessed with Grandmasters and “Chosen Ones” like Magnus Carlsen.
“Except for the chosen ones, failure is more common than wins,” she said in a philosophical way. She asks a tough question: If there is only one winner, does that mean everyone else is a loser? She says “Yes,” but with a caveat. Tan says that the key to living a long life is not avoiding loss, but accepting it without letting it “hurt your body” or your spirit.
