Ju Wenjun is the new Women's World Champion

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/05/2018

Reigning World Women Rapid Champion GM Ju Wenjun defeated GM Tan Zhongyi with a score of 5.5-4.5 to win the 10-match World Championship. The FIDE Women's World Championship Match 2018 took place in two stages. The first half consisting of first five games from 3rd to 9th May, took place in Shanghai, China and the later half, the last five games were held in Chongqing, China from 12th to 18th May. Ju took an early lead by scoring 3.5/5, which means she just needed 2 points in the last four games which she had no trouble getting as she made four consecutive draws and became third consecutive Chinese player to become the World Champion after Hou Yifan and Tan Zhongyi. Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Ju Wenjun beats Tan Zhongyi with a score of 5.5:4.5

Ju Wenjun receives the proverbial crown and €120000 from President of China Chess Association Yang Jun’an and Coach of the China national team Ye Jiangchuan | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Tan Zhongyi receives €80000 as the runner-up | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Ju Wenjun with her coach Ni Hua | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

FIDE Women's World Championship Match 2018 Official logo | Source: Official site

2018 Lander Sports Cup FIDE Women's World Chess Championship logo | Photo: Official site

Ju Wenjun's path to FIDE Women's World Championship Match 2018

Ju Wenjun won both the Khanty-Mansiysk leg and the overall FIDE Grand Prix Series 2015/16. Thus she qualified to face the Women's World Champion in 2018 | Source: FIDE GP

For the lack of bids, the Women's World Chess Championship was shifted to Tehran, Iran in 2017

Tan Zhongyi's road to FIDE Women's World Championship Match 2018

Tan Zhongyi wins FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2017 and became the 16th World Champion and fifth Chinese to do so in Women's history | Photo: David Llada

FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2018 match took place from 2nd to 19th May 2018 in two stages. Stage one (3rd - 9th May) where the first five games took place was Shanghai, which is the birthplace of Ju Wenjun and stage two (12th - 19th May) took place Chongqing, which is the birthplace of Tan Zhongyi.

Ju drew first blood as she won game 2

Ju Wenjun is all smiles after winning the game 2 in the FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2018 | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Tan Zhongyi got surprised when Ju Wenjun played 2...Bb4 in English Opening. Her biggest mistake in game 2 was playing 22.Rxd6. Can you find out the best continuation here for Black?

Ju Wenjun wins game 3

A focused Ju Wenjun won her second game in a row when she outplayed Tan Zhongyi | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Tan made an unforced error with 14...g5 and after which the position became beyond the point of retrieval and she succumbed to defeat

Tan Zhongyi strikes back in game 4

Tan Zhongyi made a comeback with a victory over Ju Wenjun, in a must-win situation and the score was now 1.5-2.5 | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Ju Wenjun's last move 26...g5 was incorrect as that propelled her opponent into a huge advantage which she capitalized and won her game

Ju Wenjun extends her lead by winning game 5

Ju Wenjun was not surprised by her opponent's choice of Bishop's opening as she knew it and handled it quite well | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Tan's choice of 13.d4 allowed Ju to gain advantage which she slowly converted into a surmountable one. Can you find out?

Tan Zhongyi wins the marathon game six

Tan Zhongyi won a marathon Queen ending in 125 moves | Photo: Gu Xiaobing

Ju Wenjun played 19. Qc3 and the game continued as she missed an opportunity. Can you find what she should have tried?

Ju Wenjun missed another good move when she played 22.b3. What are the other possibilities here for White?

Ju Wenjun's final big mistake was when she played 40. Bf1 and eventually lost the Queen ending in another 85 more moves