Ju Wenjun Clinches Fifth FIDE Women’s World Championship Title

Ju Wenjun of China has solidified her place in chess history by winning her fifth FIDE Women’s World Championship title with a dominant 6.5-2.5 victory over Tan Zhongyi in Chongqing. The 34-year-old grandmaster sealed the deal with a draw in Game 9, securing the crown with three games to spare and taking home the €300,000 winner’s prize.

Tan Zhongyi, who received €200,000 for her efforts, faced an uphill battle needing four consecutive wins just to force a tiebreak against the formidable Ju Wenjun. However, Ju’s exceptional form throughout the match made any comeback attempt nearly impossible for Tan.

Ju’s impressive performance included bouncing back from an early loss in Game 2 with four consecutive wins, effectively ending the contest before the final stretch. With this victory, Ju joins the ranks of legendary five-time women’s world champions such as Vera Menchik, Nona Gaprindashvili, and Maia Chiburdanidze.

The final game of the match was a calm affair, with Ju securing a drawn position to close out the championship. The live coverage was hosted by IMs Jovanka Houska and Irene Sukandar on Chess24’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

Ju Wenjun will now shift her focus to the upcoming Norway Chess tournament starting on May 26, while Tan Zhongyi is set to compete in the TePe Sigeman Tournament in Malmö from May 20. Chess enthusiasts won’t have to wait long to see these talented players back in action.

The championship, which began on April 3 in Shanghai, featured a prize pool of €500,000. Ju’s successful defense of her title adds another chapter to her impressive reign as the women’s world champion.