Zhaoqin was born in Canton, China and played on the Chinese team in the mid 80’s. She moved to the Netherlands in 1996, married a Dutchman (they have a 6 year old child) and has been Holland’s leading women player ever since. She has won the Dutch women’s championships an incredible 7(!) times, and is currently the reigning champ. She plays first board for her national team in world competitions (scoring a very good 8/11 in the Turin Olympiad, and a tepid 6/11 in the European teams championship).

Peng, started playing chess at the relatively late age of 12, but steadily progressed to become a Women GM, and only the eleventh women to achieve the overall Grandmaster title. It was bestowed on her after her magnificent shared first (with Kosteniuk) in the 2004 European women’s championships in Dresden 2004. Rotterdam based Zhoaqin, is a repeat visitor to Corus, although her 2004 experience in group C was a rough one (3.5/13). She is known for her strong determination and stamina, and must be resolved to make up in spades this time around.