Jump to content

Nemo Zhou: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverting possible vandalism by Ben-Tiger-Woods to version by 2A02:A212:A204:3400:50FF:4C1E:D399:4BB1. Report False Positive? Thanks, ClueBot NG. (3897935) (Bot)
m This page contains too much family background and unworthy detail for a WIKI. Simple and Clarity is the key to a WIKI. Edited under WIKI regulation.
Tag: Reverted
Line 14: Line 14:
}}
}}


'''Qiyu Zhou''' (Chinese: 周齐宇; born January 6, 2000), also known as '''Nemo Zhou''', is a Chinese-born Canadian [[chess]] player who holds the titles of [[FIDE Master]] (FM) and [[Woman Grandmaster]] (WGM). Zhou won the Canadian women's championship in 2016 and has competed for Team Canada at the [[Women's Chess Olympiad]] since 2014. She was a former U14-girls World Chess Champion in 2014. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto with a major in Economics, Statistics, and a minor in Mathematics. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chess.com/member/nemsko|title=WGM Qiyu Zhou (Nemsko) - Chess Profile}}</ref><ref>https://chessbase.in/news/WGM-Qiyu-Zhou-DVDs-on-opening-and-tactics</ref><ref>https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/media-qiyu-zhou-arts-science-online-chess-and-gaming-personality</ref><ref>https://trintimes.ca/arts/qiyus-gambit-an-interview-with-trinitys-own-chess-champion/</ref>
'''Qiyu Zhou''' (Chinese: 周齐宇; born January 6, 2000), is a Chinese-born Canadian [[chess]] player who holds the titles of [[FIDE Master]] (FM) and [[Woman Grandmaster]] (WGM). Zhou won the Canadian women's championship in 2016 and has competed for Team Canada at the [[Women's Chess Olympiad]] since 2014. She was a former U14-girls World Chess Champion in 2014. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto with a major in Economics, Statistics, and a minor in Mathematics. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chess.com/member/nemsko|title=WGM Qiyu Zhou (Nemsko) - Chess Profile}}</ref><ref>https://chessbase.in/news/WGM-Qiyu-Zhou-DVDs-on-opening-and-tactics</ref><ref>https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/media-qiyu-zhou-arts-science-online-chess-and-gaming-personality</ref><ref>https://trintimes.ca/arts/qiyus-gambit-an-interview-with-trinitys-own-chess-champion/</ref>


== Early life and background ==
== Chess Career ==
Qiyu Zhou was born on January 6, 2000 to Changrong Yu and Jiehan Zhou in [[Jingzhou]], China.<ref name="parents">{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou, 15 Year Old High School Student From Ottawa, Is A World Youth Chess Champion! |url=https://www.algonquincollege.com/livelaughlearn/home-may-2015/live-may-2015/ |website=Algonquin College |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="wgm-application">{{cite web |title=WGM Title Application |url=https://ratings.fide.com/crt/main224972.pdf |website=FIDE |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="chess-profile">{{cite web |title=Nemo Qiyu Zhou |url=https://www.chess.com/players/nemo-qiyu-zhou |website=Chess.com |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> Her mother has a [[doctorate]] in English linguistics and her father has a doctorate in computer engineering.<ref name="parents"/> Zhou began playing chess at three years old while living in [[Antibes]] in France,<ref name="chess-profile"/><ref name="chinese-bio">{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Xianglin |title=世界青少年杯国际象棋冠军 周齐宇的成长轨迹 | trans-title = The growth trajectory of Zhou Qiyu, the World Youth Cup chess champion |url=http://games.sports.cn/chessorg/domesticnews/2014-10-09/2346263.html |website=Sports.cn |access-date=13 February 2021 | date= 9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017000719/http://games.sports.cn/chessorg/domesticnews/2014-10-09/2346263.html |archive-date=17 October 2014 |language=Chinese}}</ref> where her father was working at the [[French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation]].<ref name="parents"/> She first became interested in the game after seeing a chess set while walking down the street. She subsequently joined a chess club, where her proficiency at chess was recognized from her ability to defeat 10-year-old boys despite having just a month of experience of playing the game.<ref name="human">{{cite web| last1=Zhou |first1= Qiyu |title=Humans of Chess: Qiyu Zhou |url=https://www.chessinstitute.ca/news/2020/01/17/humans-of-chess-qiyu-zhou/ |website=Chess Institute of Canada |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref>
Zhou began playing chess at three years old while living in [[Antibes]] in France.<ref name="chess-profile"/><ref name="chinese-bio">{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Xianglin |title=世界青少年杯国际象棋冠军 周齐宇的成长轨迹 | trans-title = The growth trajectory of Zhou Qiyu, the World Youth Cup chess champion |url=http://games.sports.cn/chessorg/domesticnews/2014-10-09/2346263.html |website=Sports.cn |access-date=13 February 2021 | date= 9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017000719/http://games.sports.cn/chessorg/domesticnews/2014-10-09/2346263.html |archive-date=17 October 2014 |language=Chinese}}</ref>


Zhou moved to Finland at the age of four when her father began working at the [[VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland]] and the [[University of Oulu]].<ref name="parents"/><ref name=sweden>{{cite web |title=WIM Qiyu Zhou nådde målet att vinna VM. Nu återstår en dröm – att få Nobelpriset | trans-title = WIM Qiyu Zhou reached the goal of winning the World Cup. Now a dream remains - to receive the Nobel Prize |url=http://stockholmchess.se/spelare/wim-qiyu-zhou-har-tva-drommar-att-vinna-schack-vm-och-fa-nobelpriset-i-fysik/?lang=en |website=Stockholm Chess Challenge |access-date=12 February 2021 |language=Swedish |date=7 April 2016}}</ref> In [[Oulu]], she joined the Shakki-77 chess club and was coached by Jouni Tolonen. Within a year, she became the youngest Finnish national chess champion in history by winning the under-10 open section of the Finnish Youth Chess Championships at five years old.<ref name="youngest">{{cite web |trans-title=Youth Championship tournament in Oulainen, June 9-12, 2005 | title = Nuorten SM- turnaus Oulaisissa 9. - 12.6.2005 |url=http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/nsm2005.html |website=Shakkilaakso Ry |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603005910/http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/nsm2005.html |archive-date=3 June 2008 |language=Finnish}}</ref> This achievement was widely celebrated in the media in Finland and led to her story being published in a national textbook for elementary school students.<ref name=chinese-bio/> In addition to repeating as under-10 open champion for four years from 2007 through 2010,<ref name=chess-profile/><ref>{{cite web |title=Nuorten SM-turnaukset 7.-10.6.2007 | trans-title = Finnish Youth Championships 7-10 June 2007 |url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/shakkiliitto/tul2007/nsm07t.htm |website=Kolumbus |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524153104/http://www.kolumbus.fi/shakkiliitto/tul2007/nsm07t.htm |archive-date=24 May 2009 |language=Finnish}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kilpailutuloksia | trans-title = Competition results |url=http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/tuloksia.html |website=Shakkilaakso Ry |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120230322/http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/tuloksia.html#nsm08 | archive-date = 20 November 2008 |language=Finnish}}</ref> Zhou won the [[Finnish Chess Championship|Finnish Women's National Chess Championship]] in 2010 at the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |title=Henkilökohtaiset SM-turnaukset | trans-title = Personal Championships |url=http://www.shakki.net/shakkipeli/historia/henkilokoht.html |website=Shakki Net |access-date=13 February 2021 |language=Finnish}}</ref>
Zhou moved to Finland at the age of four. Within a year, she became the youngest Finnish national chess champion in history by winning the under-10 open section of the Finnish Youth Chess Championships at five years old.<ref name="youngest">{{cite web |trans-title=Youth Championship tournament in Oulainen, June 9-12, 2005 | title = Nuorten SM- turnaus Oulaisissa 9. - 12.6.2005 |url=http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/nsm2005.html |website=Shakkilaakso Ry |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603005910/http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/nsm2005.html |archive-date=3 June 2008 |language=Finnish}}</ref> This achievement was widely celebrated in the media in Finland and led to her story being published in a national textbook for elementary school students.<ref name=chinese-bio/> In addition to repeating as under-10 open champion for four years from 2007 through 2010,<ref name=chess-profile/><ref>{{cite web |title=Nuorten SM-turnaukset 7.-10.6.2007 | trans-title = Finnish Youth Championships 7-10 June 2007 |url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/shakkiliitto/tul2007/nsm07t.htm |website=Kolumbus |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524153104/http://www.kolumbus.fi/shakkiliitto/tul2007/nsm07t.htm |archive-date=24 May 2009 |language=Finnish}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kilpailutuloksia | trans-title = Competition results |url=http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/tuloksia.html |website=Shakkilaakso Ry |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120230322/http://www.datakolmio.com/shakkilaakso/tuloksia.html#nsm08 | archive-date = 20 November 2008 |language=Finnish}}</ref> Zhou won the [[Finnish Chess Championship|Finnish Women's National Chess Championship]] in 2010 at the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |title=Henkilökohtaiset SM-turnaukset | trans-title = Personal Championships |url=http://www.shakki.net/shakkipeli/historia/henkilokoht.html |website=Shakki Net |access-date=13 February 2021 |language=Finnish}}</ref>


As the Finnish under-10 national champion, Zhou qualified to play in the [[World Youth Chess Championship]] on several occasions.<ref name=chinese-bio/> She competed in the under-10 girls' division in 2005, scoring {{abbr|4½/11|4½ points in 11 rounds}} at age five.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Youth Chess Championship 2005 G10 Belfort, France |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr9065.aspx?lan=1&art=1&flag=30 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> After switching to the new under-8 girls' division for her next two World Youth Championships, Zhou won a silver medal at the 2008 event, which was held in [[Vũng Tàu]], Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web |title = Oululainen Qiyu Zhou shakin MM-hopealle | trans-title = Oulu-based Qiyu Zhou for World Chess Silver |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/oululainen-qiyu-zhou-shakin-mm-hopealle/2202021 |website=Kaleva |access-date=13 February 2021 |language=Finnish |date=30 October 2008}}</ref> With [[Kalle Kiik]] as her team's coach at the competition,<ref name=chinese-bio/> she scored 8½/11, second behind only [[Zhansaya Abdumalik]] who finished with 10/11.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Youth Chess Championships 2008 - Girls 08 |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr15981.aspx?lan=1&art=0&fedb=MAS&fed=IND&flag=30 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> At Zhou's first World Youth Championship, she also had the opportunity to meet leading women's chess player [[Hou Yifan]], who she has long considered to be her biggest role model among other chess players.<ref name=human/>
As the Finnish under-10 national champion, Zhou qualified to play in the [[World Youth Chess Championship]] on several occasions.<ref name=chinese-bio/> She competed in the under-10 girls' division in 2005, scoring {{abbr|4½/11|4½ points in 11 rounds}} at age five.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Youth Chess Championship 2005 G10 Belfort, France |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr9065.aspx?lan=1&art=1&flag=30 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> After switching to the new under-8 girls' division for her next two World Youth Championships, Zhou won a silver medal at the 2008 event, which was held in [[Vũng Tàu]], Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web |title = Oululainen Qiyu Zhou shakin MM-hopealle | trans-title = Oulu-based Qiyu Zhou for World Chess Silver |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/oululainen-qiyu-zhou-shakin-mm-hopealle/2202021 |website=Kaleva |access-date=13 February 2021 |language=Finnish |date=30 October 2008}}</ref> With [[Kalle Kiik]] as her team's coach at the competition,<ref name=chinese-bio/> she scored 8½/11, second behind only [[Zhansaya Abdumalik]] who finished with 10/11.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Youth Chess Championships 2008 - Girls 08 |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr15981.aspx?lan=1&art=0&fedb=MAS&fed=IND&flag=30 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> At Zhou's first World Youth Championship, she also had the opportunity to meet leading women's chess player [[Hou Yifan]], who she has long considered to be her biggest role model among other chess players.<ref name=human/>


In 2011, Zhou transferred her Chess Federarion from Finland to Canada. She became a Canadian youth national champion in back-to-back years, winning the girls' under-12 division in 2012 and the girls' under-14 division in 2013.<ref name=hs>{{Cite news|url=http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-girl-wins-international-chess-competition-1.2030286|title=Ottawa girl wins International chess competition|date=29 September 2014|website=CTV Ottawa News|access-date=26 January 2017}}</ref>
When Zhou was around 11 years old, she and her family relocated to [[Ottawa]], prompting her to switch federations from Finland to Canada in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Transfers in 2011 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/fedchange.phtml?year=2011 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> She attended [[Colonel By Secondary School]] and has been a member of the RA Centre Chess Club.<ref name=hs/>


⚫
In 2014, Zhou won the gold medal in the girls' under-14 division at the World Youth Championships in [[Durban]], South Africa. <ref>{{cite web |title=World Youth Chess Championships 2014 u14 Girls |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr144249.aspx?lan=1&art=4&turdet=YES&flag=30 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Helmer |first1=Aedan |title=Ottawa chess master conquers world |url=https://www.ottawasun.com/2014/09/29/ottawa-chess-master-conquers-world |website=Ottawa Sun |access-date=13 February 2021 | date = 20 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Silver |first1=Albert |title=WYCC 2014: The winners and the stories |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/wycc-2014-the-winners-and-the-stories |website=ChessBase |access-date=13 February 2021 | date = 1 October 2014}}</ref>
==Chess career==
===2011–15: Under-14 World Champion===
Zhou earned her first FIDE rating after the 2010 World Youth Championship, starting at 1710 in January 2011.<ref name="fide-rating">{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou |url=https://ratings.fide.com/profile/505161/chart |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> Once in Canada, she had more opportunity to compete in tournaments with adults.<ref name=life>{{cite AV media| title = life :3 | date = 20 January 2021 | publisher = akaNemsko | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMRfq5-cGTU | access-date = 13 February 2021}}</ref> With good performances at both the 2011 Montreal Open and the 2011 World Youth Championship that each resulted in her gaining 50 rating points,<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings November 2011 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2011-11-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings January 2012 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2012-01-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> she finished the year at a rating of 1782.<ref name=fide-rating/> Zhou continued to rise in rating over the next several years, first crossing 1900 in July 2013 a month after a good performance at the Gatineau Open.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings June 2013 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2013-06-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=fide-rating/> She also became a Canadian youth national champion in back-to-back years, winning the girls' under-12 division in 2012 and the girls' under-14 division in 2013.<ref name=hs>{{Cite news|url=http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-girl-wins-international-chess-competition-1.2030286|title=Ottawa girl wins International chess competition|date=29 September 2014|website=CTV Ottawa News|access-date=26 January 2017}}</ref>

⚫
Zhou had a large rating jump of nearly 200 points in 2014.<ref name=fide-rating/> While rated 2029 in July, she scored 3½/4 at the Eastern Ontario Open against four opponents also between 2000 and 2100, earning a rating increase of 64 points.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings August 2014 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2014-08-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> Towards the end of 2014, Zhou produced her best result of the year by winning the gold medal in the girls' under-14 division at the World Youth Championships in [[Durban]], South Africa. She scored 8½/11 to finish in equal first with [[Oliwia Kiołbasa]], the only other undefeated player in the division. As Zhou and Kiołbasa had played to a draw in the tenth round, Zhou clinched the gold medal on the second tiebreak criteria, a [[Buchholz score]].<ref>{{cite web |title=World Youth Chess Championships 2014 u14 Girls |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr144249.aspx?lan=1&art=4&turdet=YES&flag=30 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Helmer |first1=Aedan |title=Ottawa chess master conquers world |url=https://www.ottawasun.com/2014/09/29/ottawa-chess-master-conquers-world |website=Ottawa Sun |access-date=13 February 2021 | date = 20 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Silver |first1=Albert |title=WYCC 2014: The winners and the stories |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/wycc-2014-the-winners-and-the-stories |website=ChessBase |access-date=13 February 2021 | date = 1 October 2014}}</ref> Her highest rating during the year was 2157.<ref name=fide-rating/>

Zhou's rating had multiple large rating jumps and drops in 2015.<ref name=fide-rating/> Following a rating drop of 90 points to close out 2014,<ref name=fide-rating/> Zhou immediately regained all of those rating points the following month at the Chess in [[Kecskemét]] New Year IM event in Hungary, where she scored 6/12 against opponents with an average rating of 2302.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings February 2015 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2015-02-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> After losing 99 points at the Reykjavik Open,<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings April 2015 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2015-04-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> she regained 75 points at two events in Canada in May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings June 2015 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2015-06-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> In late May, Zhou won the girls' under-18 division at the North American Youth Chess Championships in [[Toluca]], Mexico to earn the [[Woman International Master]] (WIM) title.<ref name=chess-profile/><ref>{{cite web |title=North American Youth Chess Festival 2015 U18 Female |url=http://chess-results.com/tnr174612.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&turdet=yes&flag=30&wi=984 |website=Chess Results |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> After another large rating drop at the under-20 North American Female Championships, Zhou returned to Kecskemét for two more tournaments in August. She gained 300 points between both tournaments, including 174 at the latter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings September 2015 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2015-09-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Qiyu Zhou Standard Ratings August 2015 |url=https://ratings.fide.com/calculations.phtml?id_number=505161&period=2015-10-01&rating=0 |website=FIDE |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> As a result, she rose to a rating of 2328, crossing both 2200 and 2300 for the first time.<ref name=fide-rating/>

===2016–present: FM and WGM titles===


In September 2016, Zhou won the [[Canadian Chess Championship|Canadian women's championship]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chessdailynews.com/qiyu-zhou-wins-canadian-womens-championship/|title=Qiyu Zhou wins Canadian Women's Championship|date=2016-09-30|website=[[Susan Polgar]] Global Chess Daily News and Information|language=en|access-date=2016-09-30}}</ref> and as a result qualified to play in the [[Women's World Chess Championship 2017]]. She was knocked-out by [[Natalia Pogonina]], but drew the first game with black.<ref>https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=130243&pid2=54808</ref>
In September 2016, Zhou won the [[Canadian Chess Championship|Canadian women's championship]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chessdailynews.com/qiyu-zhou-wins-canadian-womens-championship/|title=Qiyu Zhou wins Canadian Women's Championship|date=2016-09-30|website=[[Susan Polgar]] Global Chess Daily News and Information|language=en|access-date=2016-09-30}}</ref> and as a result qualified to play in the [[Women's World Chess Championship 2017]]. She was knocked-out by [[Natalia Pogonina]], but drew the first game with black.<ref>https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=130243&pid2=54808</ref>

Revision as of 21:44, 13 February 2021

Qiyu Zhou
Zhou at the 2014 World Youth Chess Championships in Durban, South Africa
CountryFinland (2005–2011)
Canada (2011–present)
Born (2000-01-06) January 6, 2000 (age 24)
Jingzhou, China
TitleFIDE Master (2016)
Woman Grandmaster (2017)
FIDE rating2229 (February 2021)
Peak rating2367 (September 2016)

Qiyu Zhou (Chinese: 周齐宇; born January 6, 2000), is a Chinese-born Canadian chess player who holds the titles of FIDE Master (FM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM). Zhou won the Canadian women's championship in 2016 and has competed for Team Canada at the Women's Chess Olympiad since 2014. She was a former U14-girls World Chess Champion in 2014. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto with a major in Economics, Statistics, and a minor in Mathematics. [1][2][3][4]

Chess Career

Zhou began playing chess at three years old while living in Antibes in France.[5][6]

Zhou moved to Finland at the age of four. Within a year, she became the youngest Finnish national chess champion in history by winning the under-10 open section of the Finnish Youth Chess Championships at five years old.[7] This achievement was widely celebrated in the media in Finland and led to her story being published in a national textbook for elementary school students.[6] In addition to repeating as under-10 open champion for four years from 2007 through 2010,[5][8][9] Zhou won the Finnish Women's National Chess Championship in 2010 at the age of 10.[10]

As the Finnish under-10 national champion, Zhou qualified to play in the World Youth Chess Championship on several occasions.[6] She competed in the under-10 girls' division in 2005, scoring 4½/11 at age five.[11] After switching to the new under-8 girls' division for her next two World Youth Championships, Zhou won a silver medal at the 2008 event, which was held in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam.[12] With Kalle Kiik as her team's coach at the competition,[6] she scored 8½/11, second behind only Zhansaya Abdumalik who finished with 10/11.[13] At Zhou's first World Youth Championship, she also had the opportunity to meet leading women's chess player Hou Yifan, who she has long considered to be her biggest role model among other chess players.[14]

In 2011, Zhou transferred her Chess Federarion from Finland to Canada. She became a Canadian youth national champion in back-to-back years, winning the girls' under-12 division in 2012 and the girls' under-14 division in 2013.[15]

In 2014, Zhou won the gold medal in the girls' under-14 division at the World Youth Championships in Durban, South Africa. [16][17][18]

In September 2016, Zhou won the Canadian women's championship[19] and as a result qualified to play in the Women's World Chess Championship 2017. She was knocked-out by Natalia Pogonina, but drew the first game with black.[20]

Team competitions

In 2014, Zhou made her debut at the Women's Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway. She played board 4 for the Canadian team scoring 6½/9 points. In the same year, she also took part in the World Youth Under-16 Chess Olympiad in Győr, Hungary playing board 4 for team Canada, which finished fifth.

Streaming career

akaNemsko
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2020–present
GenreGaming
GamesChess
Followers125,000[21]
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers15,000[22][23]
Total views533,000[23]
Last updated: 10 February 2021

Zhou began streaming under her twitch channel akaNemsko in June 2020. In August 2020, she was signed as a streamer by Counter Logic Gaming, becoming the first chess player to be signed by a major professional video game team.[24] CBC News noted that, "Zhou's contract in particular highlights the significant role played by Canadian players and streamers".[24]

Personal life

Zhou speaks four languages: English, Chinese, Finnish and French.[25]

References

  1. ^ "WGM Qiyu Zhou (Nemsko) - Chess Profile".
  2. ^ https://chessbase.in/news/WGM-Qiyu-Zhou-DVDs-on-opening-and-tactics
  3. ^ https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/media-qiyu-zhou-arts-science-online-chess-and-gaming-personality
  4. ^ https://trintimes.ca/arts/qiyus-gambit-an-interview-with-trinitys-own-chess-champion/
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference chess-profile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Liu, Xianglin (9 October 2014). "世界青少年杯国际象棋冠军 周齐宇的成长轨迹" [The growth trajectory of Zhou Qiyu, the World Youth Cup chess champion]. Sports.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Nuorten SM- turnaus Oulaisissa 9. - 12.6.2005" [Youth Championship tournament in Oulainen, June 9-12, 2005]. Shakkilaakso Ry (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Nuorten SM-turnaukset 7.-10.6.2007" [Finnish Youth Championships 7-10 June 2007]. Kolumbus (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Kilpailutuloksia" [Competition results]. Shakkilaakso Ry (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Henkilökohtaiset SM-turnaukset" [Personal Championships]. Shakki Net (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ^ "World Youth Chess Championship 2005 G10 Belfort, France". Chess Results. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Oululainen Qiyu Zhou shakin MM-hopealle" [Oulu-based Qiyu Zhou for World Chess Silver]. Kaleva (in Finnish). 30 October 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  13. ^ "World Youth Chess Championships 2008 - Girls 08". Chess Results. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference human was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Ottawa girl wins International chess competition". CTV Ottawa News. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ^ "World Youth Chess Championships 2014 u14 Girls". Chess Results. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  17. ^ Helmer, Aedan (20 September 2014). "Ottawa chess master conquers world". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  18. ^ Silver, Albert (1 October 2014). "WYCC 2014: The winners and the stories". ChessBase. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Qiyu Zhou wins Canadian Women's Championship". Susan Polgar Global Chess Daily News and Information. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
  20. ^ https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=130243&pid2=54808
  21. ^ "akaNemsko Twitch". Social Blade. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  22. ^ "akaNemsko YouTube". Social Blade. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  23. ^ a b "About akaNemsko". YouTube.
  24. ^ a b Gollom, Mark (24 October 2020). "Meet the young Canadians helping online chess become a pandemic pastime | CBC News". CBC News.
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference sweden was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nemo_Zhou&oldid=1006620775"