This Day, That Year

Item from Oct 31, 1991, in China Daily: On the eve of her 21st birthday, chess challenger Xie Jun dethroned defending world champion Maya Chiburdanidze of the Soviet Union after forcing a draw in the 15th game of the Women's World Chess Championship.

Since Xie Jun became the women's world champion in 1991, female chess players from China have dominated the game.

Xie made a historic breakthrough for non-European players and reigned twice as Women's World Chess Champion, from 1991 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2001.