Hou Yifan

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Records

Hou Yifan's achievements are historic and unparalleled in the realm of women's chess. She holds the Guinness World Record for being the youngest female Grandmaster and the youngest Women's World Champion. Her ability to maintain a top 100 global ranking for several years places her alongside legends like Judit Polgár. Being named to the BBC's 100 Women list and TIME's Next Generation Leaders collection underscores her impact beyond the chessboard. Her transition to a professorship at Peking University while maintaining competitive play is a unique feat in sports history.

AwardsHou Yifan has won the Women's World Chess Championship four times (2010, 2011, 2013, 2016). She also won the World Junior Chess Championship Girls' title in 2007. Her contributions to the sport were recognized with the Senior Trainer license in 2020 and the FIDE Trainer license in 2019. In 2017, she was named to the BBC's 100 Women list. She triumphed with Wang Hao in the team event at the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China in 2025.

Honours & Distinctions

Guinness World Record

Guinness World Records·2008

Youngest female Grandmaster

BBC 100 Women

BBC·2017

Named one of 100 influential women

TIME Next Generation Leaders

TIME Magazine·2026

Featured in Next Generation Leaders collection

FIDE Trainer License

FIDE·2019

Recognized for training contributions

Senior Trainer License

FIDE·2020

Advanced trainer certification

Rankings & Lists

#82

Global Fame Rankings

iFANN·2026

Esports Fame Rankings

iFANN·2026

Top Female Players

FIDE·2026

Records & Feats

Youngest Female Grandmaster

Historic First·2008

Earned GM title at age 14, breaking the previous record held by Judit Polgár

Youngest Women's World Champion

Historic First·2010

Won the title at age 16 in 2010

Top 100 Global Ranking

Career Milestone·2014

First woman since Judit Polgár to rank in the top 100 globally for an extended period