Liu Yan is a Chinese chess Grandmaster. She achieved the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 1998 and International Master (IM) title in 2001. Being one of the top-ranked female players in China, she played for her country in Chess Olympiads in 2000, 2002, and 2004, as well as in the Women's World Chess Championship in 2000 and 2004. She won her first National Women's Chess Championship in 2000.
Liu's other tournaments include winning the 2003 and 2004 Jinan Zonal Tournaments, the 2002 Asian Women's Championship in Bikaner, India, and the 2005 Beijing Zonal Tournament. She also won five gold medals (team and individual) in the World Mind Sports Games in 2008 and 2012.
In 2002, Liu was awarded the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). In 2009, she became the world number two ranked woman after winning the Japfa Chess Festival in Indonesia.
She coaches the Chinese national women's team and is the director of the Mind Sports Center of the General Administration of Sport of China. Liu has published several books on chess, including "My World Chess Championship" and "The Way to the Top: A Guide for Young Chess Players."