Crowning a Champion: Ju Wenjun clinches her fifth title
In the final game of the FIDE Women’s World Championship Match, tension could be felt in the playing hall. Tan Zhongyi entered the game with nothing to lose, while Ju Wenjun carried the pressure of needing only half a point to secure her fifth world title. The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Draws have been a rarity throughout the match, with six out of the eight previous games producing decisive results. That made the outlook for today’s game particularly intriguing. Would Ju play solidly to secure the draw she needed, or would we witness another fighting battle? Though the score may suggest a dominant performance from Ju Wenjun, the reality is far more nuanced. Tan Zhongyi fought hard throughout the match, often holding promising positions, and never allowing Ju an easy ride. Despite being down, she entered the final game hoping to create imbalance and generate winning chances. But Ju, calm and focused, played with clarity and precision, guiding the game to the draw she needed. The final game opened with the Sicilian Rossolimo—revisiting the line from Game 6 where Tan, with the black pieces, obtained a slight edge. This time, Ju deviated with 5.Re1 instead of 5.d4, and the players soon found themselves navigating a fresh and dynamic position. White accepted an isolated queen’s pawn, which Ju temporarily sacrificed before regaining it after a series of trades. 18.Rad1 e5 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Qb4 a5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Although Ju was behind on the clock by 30 minutes, the evaluation bar was firmly rooted in 0.0, with a simple and open position. Following further exchanges, the game transitioned into a rook endgame, and by move 38, repetition confirmed the result: a draw. Despite the absence of fireworks in the final game, the match as a whole was anything but dull. The final score might mislead the casual observer into thinking Ju Wenjun steamrolled her way to victory, but the reality was more complex. Every game was filled with tension, and no outcome was certain until the final moments. Take, for instance, Game 2, which appeared dead equal until a sharp collapse under time pressure: 40…Ke8?? (instead of 40…b4!)Ju Wenjun, playing Black, faltered at the critical moment, allowing Tan Zhongyi to seize her opportunity and score her first win. This pattern repeated in every single game – both players lay in wait like pythons beneath the sand, ready to strike the moment their opponent slipped. Or Game 6, where Tan, pushing too ambitiously, lost the thread: Instead of maintaining balance with quiet play, Tan pushed 31.h4? a move that allowed Ju to break through with 31…g4. The momentum shifted entirely, and Ju converted her advantage with surgical precision. These examples are not isolated. Nearly every game in the match followed this pattern of high tension, mutual pressure, and a readiness to capitalize on the opponent’s mistakes. In the final post-game press conference, Ju and Tan expressed that their favorite games were games 8 and 7 respectively because of the quality of play. The Women’s World Championship Match has shown us an admirable display of not only skill – but immense fighting spirit from both sides. And fighting spirit is, after all, a key ingredient for any great chess player. With this draw, Ju Wenjun secures her place in history. She is now a five-time Women’s World Champion—a new record among Chinese players. Her legacy, built on years of consistent excellence and determination, will inspire generations to come. FACT SHEET, Game 9, FIDE Women’s World Championship 2025: White: Ju WenjunBlack: Tan ZhongyiResult: ½ Opening: Sicilian Rossolimo Game length: 38 movesMatch score: 6.5-2 (in favour of Ju Wenjun) Follow FIDE’s social media channels for updates, tune into YouTube for live commentary and coverage, and visit the official match website for more information. Written by Charlize van Zyl Photos: Anna Shtourman Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/
Chess for Freedom Continental Championship and Workshop for Africa: Last call to register
The 2025 Chess for Freedom Continental Chess Championship for Africa and Workshop organized by FIDE in collaboration with The Gift of Chess, Dadaz Chess Academy, and the Malawi Prison Service (Lilongwe, Malawi) are scheduled to take place from May 12 – May 14, 2025, in Lilongwe, Malawi. This will be the first in-person Chess for Freedom Conference for Africa. The registration deadline is May 1, 2025. We are very grateful for our partners, Malawi Prison Department and all the participating correctional facilities around Africa. Invitations are extended to all previous online intercontinental event participants from Africa and those who aspire to start the chess in prison program. The event is open only for representatives of Africa. Chess for Freedom – Workshop Goals To debrief on the outcomes from past online intercontinental chess events, hosted by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, including highlighting notable event accomplishments from Africa, and identifying improvement areas. To introduce the Chess for Freedom program to new African countries and support them with information to be part of the program and share its impact in other countries. To discuss engagement strategies for potential partners associated with the Chess for Freedom program. To have an Africa Continental Championship. The Workshop event schedule is as follows: May 11: Guests arrival. Welcome dinner May 12: Workshop featuring various breakout topics. May 13: Maula Prison tour – men and Juveniles (includes meeting with Prison administration and staff). Continental Championship for Africa on-line tournament May 14: Trip to Malawi Lake. Guests departure. “The prison officials see that in the places where the chess program is implemented, the behavior of the individuals in-custody changes, depression and stress levels decrease, they are better with socialization skills when they leave the facility. It’s not only about the skills and another way of spending free time, but also the sense of belonging to a community, to the chess family. We’ve been working a lot to advocate for a program itself, but the examples of the other countries work even better,” says Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola about the rapid growth of the program all over the world. Chess for Freedom Workshop – Lodging Details The official hotel for the Chess for Freedom Workshop is the Lifestyle Boutique Hotel by Umodzi Park, Lilongwe in Malawi. All attendees are required to register for the workshop by signing up HERE. The Workshop program will include: Welcome from the Ministry of Homeland Security of Malawi Presentation by the FIDE – Dana Ozola Reizniece or Andre Vogtlin Chess for Freedom program overview – Mikhail Korenmann Chess for Freedom program in Malawi with the Gift of Chess support in Africa – Susan Namangale Chess Impact for young offenders in Ghana – David Amcheapong Nation-wide Chess for Freedom program in Kenya – PS Salome Beacco/Phyllis Ngingi Round-table discussion include prison authorities and participants of the Chess for Freedom project. Chess for Freedom Workshop – Contact Information Susan Namangale Dadaz Chess Founder / Gift of Chess Ambassador FIDE Schools Instructor and Member of FIDE PDC Commission.E-mail dadazchess22@gmail.com WhatsApp: +265999951477 Rafiq Namangale Chief Operations OfficerFIDE Developmental Instructor /Dadaz Chess CoachE-mail rafiqjames03@gmail.com WhatsApp: +265993701492