The Bicontinental Chess Match between GM Hou Yifan from China and local star Cristobal Henriquez Villagra will be held in February 2016 in Chilean Patagonia and Antarctica.
The idea for the event was born during the talks between FIDE Vice President Beatriz Marinello, Punta Arenas Mayor Emilio Boccazzi, and Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Intendant Jorge Flies Anon.
The regional and city institutions are interested in promoting the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica as a link between the American and Antarctic continents. More in this article (Spanish language).
The organizers will also put special emphasis on the importance of peace in the world and climate changes. The White Continent doesn’t have borders and these are territories that are being preserve for the future.
Hou Yifan was two times Women’s World Champion (2010-2012 2013-2015) and she will have another shot at the title in the 2016 Women’s World Championship Match against the reigning Queen GM Mariya Muzychuk.
The 19-years old Cristobal Henriquez Villagra is the reigning Champion of Chile. In the 2015 World Chess Cup in Baku he caused the biggest upset in the history of the competition by eliminating former World Championship Challenger Boris Gelfand in the first round.