He has stated his desire to teach and give training to youngsters in China via an online classroom network.

He has been a Grandmaster (GM) since August 2001, when he achieved his last norm at the Asian Continental Championships - won by Xu Jun - in Kolkata where he came fourth with 7.5/11.

Zhang, ranked 113th in the world at the time, held Karpov to two draws in regular matches and forced him into the two tie-breaks.

In the first rapid play tie-breaker Zhang won the first game (Slav Defense[6]) where he mounted a stiff opposition as black that eventually Karpov ran out of time in a roughly equal position.

My idea was to avoid the exchange of pieces to preserve my chances and to maintain tension in the game," Zhang said.

These tactics proved to be a brilliant success against the 48-year-old Karpov, who had already conceded victory to Zhang four years before at an exhibition game in China.

[18] In February 2005, Zhang won the Festival International des Jeux in Cannes with an almost perfect score of 8.5/9.

In September 2007 he won the Asian Individual Championship ahead of second place compatriot Wang Hao in Manila.

[24] In April 2008, he came a clear second at the 2nd Ruy López International Chess Festival in Mérida, Spain with a score of 5/7 and performance rating of 2772.

[25] In 2003, he won the individual gold medal at the 13th Asian Team Chess Championship in Jodhpur.