Shanghai and Chongqing to host 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship Match
The Women's World Championship Match will be played in Shanghai and Chongqing, China from 1st to 23rd April 2025. Just like the last time, the host cities will be exactly the same. The reigning four-time Women's World Champion, Wenjun Ju will face the winner of FIDE Women's Candidates 2024 - Zhongyi Tan. Wenjun's World Championship reign started in 2018 by winning against the 16th World Champion, Zhongyi. So it will be a rematch after nearly seven years, only this time it will be a 12-game match instead of 10. One thing is for sure, Women's World Champion title is not leaving China for the foreseeable future. Photo: FIDE
World Championship Matches are the pinnacle of chess, and this year we will witness the 2025 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship, featuring a highly anticipated rematch between two of China's top Grandmasters: the reigning Champion, Ju Wenjun, and the Challenger, Tan Zhongyi. With regulations set to be finalized soon, here is all the information you need to know about what the match entails.
The Match
The 2025 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi will follow a 12-game format. The first player to score 6.5 points will be declared the winner.
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.
The Players
Ju Wenjun
Ju Wenjun has been a dominant force in women's chess, achieving numerous accolades throughout her career. She first claimed the Women's World Chess Championship title in 2018 by defeating Tan Zhongyi by a score of 5½–4½. Later that year, she retained her title by winning the 64-player knockout tournament. Ju successfully defended her crown twice more: in 2020 against Aleksandra Goryachkina and in 2023 against Lei Tingjie.
Her versatility is further highlighted by her victories in the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship in 2017 and 2018, and the Women's World Blitz Chess Championship in 2024. As a key member of the Chinese national women's chess team, Ju contributed to gold medal victories in the 2016 and 2018 Chess Olympiads, as well as the Women's World Team Chess Championships in 2009 and 2011.
Tan Zhongyi
Tan Zhongyi has been a prominent figure in the chess world for over a decade. She began her chess journey at a young age, securing multiple youth titles, which laid a strong foundation for her future in the women’s elite. In 2017, Tan won the Women's World Chess Championship, defeating GM Anna Muzychuk in rapid tiebreaks. She lost the title to Ju Wenjun in 2018 but continued to amass accolades, including winning the Women's World Rapid Championship in 2022 and the Cairns Cup in 2024. She earned her spot in the 2025 championship by triumphing in the Women's Candidates Tournament 2024 with a dominant performance.
She is a five-time national champion, winning the titles in 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Tan was also part of the 2016 gold-winning Olympiad team, where she also won an individual gold medal for board 4.
This upcoming match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi is a testament to China's dominance in women's chess. Both players have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, making this championship a highly anticipated event in the chess community.
Schedule and Venues
The title match is scheduled to take place from April 1 to 23, 2025, across two Chinese cities: Shanghai and Chongqing.
Shanghai, the hometown of Ju Wenjun, is a global financial hub with a rich history of hosting international chess events. The city boasts several active chess clubs, including Chess in Shanghai, which organizes weekly tournaments and has been a cornerstone for chess players in the area. The Shanghai Chess League also contributes to the city's vibrant chess scene by hosting regular competitions. Shanghai provides an ideal setting to commence the championship, and will host the first 6 games of the match.
Chongqing, Tan Zhongyi's hometown, offers a contrasting yet complementary backdrop to Shanghai. The city has gained recognition for its contributions to the chess community, having hosted significant tournaments such as the 2023 FIDE Women's Candidates Final. Chongqing is a major center for chess in China, with numerous clubs and academies fostering talent and promoting the game. This makes it a fitting venue for the championship's conclusion, celebrating the city's growing prominence in the chess world.
The 2025 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship Match not only promises a thrilling contest between two of the world's best female chess players but also serves as a celebration of chess's rich cultural heritage in China. Fans worldwide eagerly await this clash of titans, anticipating games that will be analyzed and remembered for years to come.
Source: FIDE Press Release