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Wenjun Ju becomes Women’s World Champion for the fifth time

by Shahid Ahmed - 19/04/2025

Wenjun Ju defeated Zhongyi Tan 6.5-2.5 in a twelve game match to become the FIDE Women's World Champion for the fifth time. The eventual champion started the Chongqing segment with a victory, completing her hat-trick. Then she won the next game too which meant that she needed only a draw in the next four games. That's what she did in Game 9 to retain her crown. The total prize fund was €500000. Wenjun won 60% which is €300000 since the tie-breaks were not needed, Zhongyi got €200000. Zhongyi could not bring her best game and the match turned out to be extremely one-sided. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Wenjun needed least amount of games in all her title defenses in matches

Among all her title defenses, Wenjun Ju needed the least amount of games against Zhongyi Tan, nine. Their 2018 World title match had a score of 5.5-4.5, against GM Aleksandra Goryachkina in 2020, Wenjun won by 6-6 (2.5-1.5) and the score over GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) was 6.5-5.5. Zhongyi's quest for third match against Wenjun will continue on 5th May as she will participate in the final leg of FIDE Women's GP 2024-25.

Wenjun has is now a five-time Women's World Champion | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Game 7: Wenjun - Zhongyi: 1-0

GM Wenjun Ju (CHN, 2561) scored a hat-trick by winning her third game in-a-row, the first one at Chongqing, China against the Challenger - GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2555).

Position after 37...Kg7?

Instead of making an attempt to open up the position immediately, 37...a4 38.Nxc4 c5 one of the ways what Black could have played. Instead, 37...Kg7?? 38.Kg5 Ba8?? 39.Kxh5 Rb8 40.Rc4 Rh8+ 41.Kg4 and White went on to win the game in the next few moves.

Game 1-7 recap by IM Sagar Shah and GM Harshit Raja | Video: ChessBase India

Lots of spectators watched Game 7 in person in Chongqing, China | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Game 8: Zhongyi - Wenjun : 0-1

For the fourth time in eight games, GM Zhongyi Tan faltered in an endgame. It won't be an overstatement to say that her endgame is an area which was inferior than the reigning Women's World Champion, GM Wenjun Ju. The defending champion registered her fourth consecutive win. Now she just needed a draw in the next four games to retain her crown.

Position after 30.Qa7?

30.Qa7? neglecting the c4-pawn turned out to be a big mistake. White could have played Qa7 after capturing on b5 first. It would have been less damaging for White. 30...bxc4 31.Qxc7 Bb5 32.Nb7 c3 and the passed pawn played a key role in Black earning a victory.

Wenjun won her fourth game in-a-row in this match | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Game 9: Wenjun - Zhongyi: 0.5-0.5

Wenjun needed just a draw to win the match and that's what she did in the ninth game.

Wenjun Ju is still the Women's World Champion | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Replay live stream

Replay Game 7-9 live commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and GM Xu Yi (CHN) | Video: FIDE
Closing ceremony | Video: FIDE

Closing ceremony

Artistic performance at the closing ceremony | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

GM Wenjun Ju receiving her crown from the ninth Women's World Champion - GM Zhu Chen | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Runner-up - GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

WGM Dana Reizniece, FIDE Deputy Chair, GM Wenjun Ju, five-time Women's World Champion and GM Zhu Chen, ninth Women's World Champion | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

A group photo | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Time control and Regulations

The time control for each game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

 

If the match is tied at 6-6 after all 12 games, a tiebreak will determine the champion. The tiebreak procedure typically involves a series of rapid and, if necessary, blitz games to ensure a decisive outcome.

Schedule and Venues

The match is scheduled to take place from 1st to 23rd April 2025, across two Chinese cities: Shanghai and Chongqing.

Schedule | Photo: FIDE

Links

Official site

Match Regulations



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