Women’s World Championship 2025: Wenjun Ju two points ahead at the halfway mark
Wenjun Ju has taken a firm lead 4-2 against Zhongyi Tan after the first six games at FIDE Women's World Championship. After a draw in the first game, Zhongyi Tan, the Challenger, struck first. However, the defending champion, Wenjun delivered the equalizer in the third game. The fourth game was a well contested draw. Wenjun had to grind a lot in the fifth game in a rook and opposite color bishop endgame. In the sixth game, Zhongyi faltered in a relatively balanced queen and knight endgame. The second half ot the match begins tomorrow in Chongqing, China. Game 7 starts on 13th April at 3 p.m. local time, 12:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman
Wenjun eyes at her fifth reign
Zhongyi Tan sticking to English Opening with white and 2...e6 Sicilian with black might not seem to be the best idea. She has two points deficit and only six games left. It is not impossible for her to level the score, yet it is quite difficult practically, especially since she is facing the four-time Women's World Champion who has three match experience and Zhongy none. Her sole World title reign occurred in 64-women knockout event in 2017.
Game 1: Wenjun - Zhongyi: 0.5-0.5
The four-time reigning and defending Women's World Champion, GM Wenjun Ju (CHN, 2561) got the white pieces in the first game against the Challenger, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2555). The game ended in a draw.
Game 2: Zhongyi - Wenjun : 0-1
The second game witnessed Four-Knights in the English Opening. The game reached a relatively equal rook endgame. Wenjun needed to give up his passed b-pawn. Holding on to it longer harmed her position.
The b5-pawn is a liability. It is hindering the movement of black's rook. What Black needed to do is get rid of it and activate her rook immediately 40...b4 41.Rxb4 Ra5 is what should have been played. Instead, 40...Ke8?? 41.Ke4 cost Black the pawn anyway and the rook ended up in a less than desirable square. 41...Rf6 42.Rxb5+- and White went on to convert her advantage into a win comfortably. Zhongyi took a 1-0 lead after the conclusion of Game 2.
Game 3: Wenjun - Zhongyi: 1-0
The defending champion struck back immediately in the third game. Once again, Zhongyi opted for 2...e6 in the Sicilian. However, Wenjun responded with 3.c4 this time unlike 3.d4 in the first game.
In an ideal world, the above rook and opposite color bishop endgame should end in a draw. However, nothing is perfect. The determined World Champion grinded the endgame for another 46 moves before her opponent succumbed.
Game 4: Zhongyi - Wenjun: 0.5-0.5
The fourth game was a hard-fought draw. Zhongyi once again opted for the English opening with white pieces.
Game 5: Wenjun - Zhongyi: 1-0
Zhongyi for her third consecutive game with the black pieces, opted for 2...e6 in the Sicilian. She landed herself in deep trouble out of the opening and could not recover for the rest of the game.
20.Bxa6 Black lost one pawn too many. The extra pawns played a crucial role in Wenjun winning her second game of the match, taking a 3-2 lead.
Game 6: Zhongyi - Wenjun: 0-1
Zhongyi stuck to her English Opening preparation for the third consecutive game with the white pieces. In a relatively balanced queen and knight endgame, she made an incorrect pawn push which allowed Wenjun to force queen trade. The resultant knight endgame was winning for Black.
31.h4? was a big mistake as it allowed g4 now White cannot avoid the queen trade. So she went 32.Qb7+ Qd7 33.Qxd7+ Nxd7 34.Nd2 Kf6 Black has the upper hand due to her king being able to storm to the queenside.
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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.
Links
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Wenjun Ju becomes Women’s World Champion for the fifth time
@ 19/04/2025 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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Women's World Championship 2025 Game 7: Ju Wenjun takes a 5-2 lead
@ 13/04/2025 by FIDE Press Release (en) |
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Shanghai and Chongqing to host 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship Match
@ 11/02/2025 by ChessBase India (en) |