Xue Haowen
{{Short description|Chinese chess grandmaster (born 2008)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Xue|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox chess biography
| name = Xue Haowen
薛皓文
| country = China
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|2008|11}}
| birth_place = Shenzhen, Guangdong
| title = Grandmaster (2025){{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/crt/main232915.pdf|title=FIDE Title Application (GM)}}
| peakrating = 2518 (February 2025)
| FideID = 8625492
}}
Xue Haowen ({{zh|s=|t=|c=薛皓文|p=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.{{Cite web |title=Shenzhen (China) |url=https://olymp-results2021.fide.com/team/ch2 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=FIDE Online Olympiad 2021 |language=ru}}{{Cite web |date=18 September 2021 |title=Online Chess Olympiad drops curtain in Longgang |url=http://www.lg.gov.cn/english/news/latestnews/content/post_9143847.html |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=www.lg.gov.cn}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.dutenews.com/n/article/7694232 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=www.dutenews.com}}{{Cite web |last=Ootes |first=Lennart |date=19 August 2023 |title=China Wins FIDE World Youth U16 Olympiad in Eindhoven, Netherlands |url=https://youtholympiad2023.fide.com/?p=2689 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=FIDE World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=My Story with Chess – Shenzhen College of International Education |url=https://www.scie.com.cn/my-story-with-chess/ |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - Dubai Open 2023 - Category A |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr759378.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=CHN&turdet=YES&flag=30&snr=75 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=chess-results.com}}{{Cite web |title=中国体育报数字报-薛皓文拿到特级大师序分 |url=http://www.chinasportsdaily.cn/tyb/html/2023-06/06/content_116879_16183685.htm |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=www.chinasportsdaily.cn}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Rapid Open |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr864782.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=CHN&turdet=YES&snr=163 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=chess-results.com}} He also participated in the World Blitz Chess Championship 2023 with less success, placing 177th.{{Cite web |title=Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Blitz Open |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr864421.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=CHN&turdet=YES&snr=189 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=chess-results.com}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - 3rd Hua Yi Cup Chinese Chess Rapid Tournament |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr919501.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=CHN&snr=21 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=chess-results.com}}
In July, Xue won the Arona Open in Tenerife with 8 points from 10 games and an Elo performance of 2677.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Johannes |date=2024-07-03 |title=Untitled Haowen Xue wins strong Arona Open in Tenerife |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/untitled-haowen-xue-wins-strong-arona-open-in-teneriffa |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Chess News |language=en}}
= 2025 =
In January, Xue won the Hastings International Chess Congress with 7 points from 9 games and an Elo performance of 2645.{{Cite web |title=Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - Caplin Hastings Masters |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr1088363.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=CHN&turdet=YES&flag=30&snr=6 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=chess-results.com}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Barden |first=Leonard |date=2025-01-17 |title=Hastings Masters guards chess tradition and unveils a new 16-year-old star |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/17/hastings-masters-guards-chess-tradition-and-unveils-a-new-16-year-old-star |access-date=2025-01-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Personal life
Xue grew up in Shenzhen and started playing chess when he was six years old. His chess coach is Zeng Chongsheng.
He currently attends Shenzhen College of International Education.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Chess in China}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xue, Haowen}}
Category:21st-century Chinese chess players
Category:Chess players from Guangdong
Category:Chess Olympiad competitors