Chess-themed Lantern Festival event draws families

Xie Jun plays chess with children in a simultaneous game at the Guangming Culture and Art Center on March 1. Photos from the organizer

A Lantern Festival cultural event blending traditional customs with a chess competition was held March 1 at the Guangming Culture and Art Center, attracting families and students from across the city.

The event featured appearances by former women’s world chess champion Xie Jun and master Yu Shaoteng. Participants earned opportunities to challenge the two masters in matches through lantern riddle games, a traditional holiday activity.

Children play chess with Sense Robot AI robots.

Originally limited to 30 players, the simultaneous event expanded to 45 due to strong public interest. The two masters each played more than 20 opponents and later offered post-game analysis and signed autographs.

Additional activities included parent-child games and interactive experiences with SenseRobot, billed as the world’s first intelligent home-use chess robot. Organizers said the event aimed to combine festive traditions with intellectual sports, enriching holiday cultural offerings in Guangming District.