NM Yun Fan

 If Yun Fan were back in China, she probably would be a professional chess player. But for Fan, the music industry beckons even louder.  “I play chess for fun,” she says. “My real ambition is music.”  Fan readily acknowledges that she spends very little time playing chess because she would rather concentrate on music. She writes lyrics and music for a rock band in which she also sings. She’s also a band manager. In addition, she has a company where she brings American bands to China and Chinese bands to the U.S.

So it’s no surprise to learn that Fan is far more likely to practice her music than her chess. “Before I came to America (a year ago), I was in the national youth camp. I had to practice (chess) two hours every day because that’s required. Since I came to America, I don’t practice at all. I just go to tournaments and play.”

Fan also is busying studying as well. The sophomore at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., is a double major in economics and communications.

Fan credits chess for allowing her to travel around the globe, meeting interesting people along the way. But one place she likely won’t travel next summer is back to her home in Beijing. “Probably I will go to New York,” say says. “There are a lot of musicians to play and hang out with.”