Xue Haowen

In this Chinese name, the family name is Xue.

Xue Haowen 薛皓文
Country	China
Born	November 2008 (age 16) Shenzhen, Guangdong
Title	Grandmaster (2025)[1]
FIDE rating	2502 (January 2025)
Peak rating	2502 (August 2024)

Xue Haowen (Chinese: 薛皓文; pinyin: Xuē Hàowén; born 2008) is a Chinese chess grandmaster. Prior to holding any FIDE titles, he defeated multiple Grandmasters, gaining attention when he (as an untitled player) defeated Hans Niemann at the 2023 Dubai Open Chess Tournament in an upset with the black pieces.

Chess career

2021

Xue participated in the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2021 as part of the host Shenzhen team. Originally part of Division 2, it advanced to the pool B of the top division where it came fourth, making it a top 16 team.[2][3]

2023

In August, Xue was part of the China team that participated in the 2023 FIDE World Youth U16 Olympiad held in Eindhoven. His team won and Xue personally scored 7 points on board 1 by winning 5 games and drawing 4 with no losses.[4][5][6]

In June, Xue participated in the 2023 Dubai Open Chess Tournament where he came eighth overall with a performance rating of 2709 where he defeated four grandmasters: Artem Chernobay, David Gavrilescu, Mikheil Mchedlishvili and Hans Niemann.[7][8]

In December, Xue participated in the World Rapid Chess Championship 2023 coming 91st. His strongest games during the tournament were defeating Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Aravindh Chithambaram with the black pieces.[9] He also participated in the World Blitz Chess Championship 2023 with less success, placing 177th.[10]

2024

In April, Xue came fourth in the Hua Yi Cup Chinese Chess Rapid Tournament. He defeated Bu Xiangzhi and Li Chao to reach the semifinals but was defeated by Wei Yi and then Yu Yangyi.[11]

In July, Xue won the Arona Open in Tenerife with 8 points from 10 games and an Elo performance of 2677.[12]

2025

In January, Xue won the Hastings International Chess Congress with 7 points from 9 games and an Elo performance of 2645.[13] He broke Judit Polgar's record as the youngest winner. This marked his final GM norm, and since he had previously surpassed the 2500 rating mark, qualified him to become a Grandmaster.[14]

Personal life

Xue grew up in Shenzhen and started playing chess when he was six years old.[4][6] His chess coach is Zeng Chongsheng.[6]

He currently attends Shenzhen College of International Education.[6]

References

1. "FIDE Title Application (GM)" (PDF).
2. "Shenzhen (China)". FIDE Online Olympiad 2021 (in Russian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
3. "Online Chess Olympiad drops curtain in Longgang". www.lg.gov.cn. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
4. "2023国际棋联U16奥林匹克团体赛在荷兰举行，深圳本土小将薛皓文表现突出". www.dutenews.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
5. Ootes, Lennart (19 August 2023). "China Wins FIDE World Youth U16 Olympiad in Eindhoven, Netherlands". FIDE World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
6. "My Story with Chess – Shenzhen College of International Education". Retrieved 1 January 2024.
7. "Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - Dubai Open 2023 - Category A". chess-results.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
8. "中国体育报数字报-薛皓文拿到特级大师序分". www.chinasportsdaily.cn. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
9. "Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Rapid Open". chess-results.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
10. "Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Blitz Open". chess-results.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
11. "Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - 3rd Hua Yi Cup Chinese Chess Rapid Tournament". chess-results.com. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
12. Fischer, Johannes (3 July 2024). "Untitled Haowen Xue wins strong Arona Open in Tenerife". Chess News. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
13. "Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - Caplin Hastings Masters". chess-results.com. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
14. Barden, Leonard (17 January 2025). "Hastings Masters guards chess tradition and unveils a new 16-year-old star". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 January 2025.