Time trouble and middlegame madness characterized today’s game, and not just in moments, but throughout nearly every phase. It was a game that teased decisive results, but ultimately ended in a draw that felt anything but quiet.
With two of the three previous games in the match ending decisively, today’s clash carried psychological weight. Would the players opt for a cautious draw, or dare to push for a lead? If the match so far was any indication, fireworks were more likely than fizzle, and indeed, the game sparked to life straight out of the opening.
Song Hui, Deputy Director of Shanghai Administration of Sports and Mohd AI-Mudahka, Arab Chess Federation 1st Vice-President performed the first ceremonial moves in Game 4.
Tan Zhongyi revisited her Game 2 opening with 1.c4, but Ju Wenjun deviated with 1…e6, followed by a confident 2…Bb4 after 2.Nc3. Tan paused only briefly before playing 3.Qb3, bringing her queen out early. Known for her quick play that showcases her confidence, Tan even remarked in yesterday’s press conference that she believes she could be playing faster. It made one wonder whether Ju’s opening preparation had surprised her. However, it was Ju who soon began to fall behind on the clock, and by move 6, the players had reached a position unseen at top level. Once again, they entered an original battleground.
The first clear sign that this would be a fighting game came when Ju sacrificed a pawn in exchange for activity and attacking chances. Tan declined the offer, continuing with 12.Be3, but then, a few moves later, she offered her own pawn in return:
Ignoring Black’s pressure on the d-pawn, Tan played 18.Bf4, causing Ju to burn 20 minutes on her reply. After 18…Nxd4 19.Rfd1 Nb5 20.Nxb5 axb5 21.Qb3, Black found herself in a tangled position and short on time, with just over 20 minutes remaining. At this point, White seemed poised to score a third straight win in the match. Tan had outplayed her opponent and taken control.
But perhaps that very control made her overconfident as Tan missed a critical detail.
Here, 24.Qxb6 would have restored material balance while leaving White with the bishop pair, actively placed pieces, a dangerous outside passed pawn and great winning chances. Instead, Tan opted for the ambitious 24.Bd6, perhaps envisioning a continuation like 24…Re8 25.Ba3 and a smooth path to victory. In the post-game press conference, Tan said that she simply miscalculated.
Ju, however, quickly responded with 24…Ra5! Suddenly, …Qxb6 was no longer attractive due to …Nc8, which would neutralize White’s advantage by eliminating the bishop pair. The tide turned. The game continued and an interesting moment arose on move 30 which I want to present to the reader as a fun puzzle (you can find the solution at the end).
Here, Ju had the opportunity to play 30…d4, sacrificing a pawn (a recurring motif in the game). But this pawn was poisoned. If White captured with 31.Rxd4, she would walk into serious trouble. (Try solving this as a puzzle – solution at the end!)
Instead, Ju played 30…Bf5, preparing the exchange of light-squared bishops. A few moves later, she misjudged a queen trade, and White regained the advantage with a bishop versus knight, a more active rook, and a dangerous outside passed pawn.
But the pattern repeated.
Tan, in her trademark rapid style, pushed her b-pawn too early, neglecting a vital endgame principle: activating the king before advancing. Though her plan was correct, the sequence mattered, and this inaccuracy allowed Ju to counter with her d-pawn, pushing it all the way to the second rank. It was ultimately exchanged for White’s h-pawn, and the once-promising b-pawn had barely moved.
Ju’s time trouble, an ongoing theme in the match, returned in full force. With under a minute on her clock and a tough position to navigate, she was under tremendous pressure. Tan, still up by over 20 minutes, tried to keep the heat on by playing quickly. But once again, this cost her dearly. In a position where precision was key, she missed the optimal move order, and the game became a technically drawn rook and pawn endgame.
On move 81, with only the kings left on the board, the players shook hands as the game was drawn.
The match was destined to be a closely contested one, and today’s game proved it once again. Tan had her chances, and expressed disappointment in her play in the post-game press conference, but Ju showed why she is the reigning World Champion and found key moves in critical moments. Tomorrow they will have their second official rest day before resuming the battle.
Puzzle Solution
The d4 pawn push opened up the d5-square for Black so 31.Rxd4 is met with 31…Nd5! And White has to capture as the queen and bishop are forked. But 32.Bxd5 runs into 32…Qb1+ 33.Kg2 Bxd5+ 34.Rxd5 and 34…Qe4+! picking up the rook.
FACT SHEET, Game 4, FIDE Women’s World Championship 2025:
White: Tan Zhongyi
Black: Ju Wenjun
Result: ½-½
Opening: English
Game length: 81 moves
Match score: 2-2
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Written by Charlize van Zyl
Photos: Anna Shtourman
Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/
About the Match
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi follows 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 involves a series of rapid and, if necessary, blitz games to ensure a decisive outcome.