China's Ju Wenjun during the ninth game of the FIDE Women's World Championship in Chongqing, China, April 16, 2025. /VCG
China's Ju Wenjun has made history by securing her fifth consecutive title at the FIDE Women's World Championship in Chongqing, defeating fellow compatriot Tan Zhongyi 6.5–2.5.
Playing with the white pieces, Ju adopted a cautious strategy from the outset. She castled early on move four and utilized the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo attack against Tan's Sicilian defense, steering the game toward a more positional approach. Both players engaged in a series of exchanges in the center, carefully navigating the match and ultimately transitioning into a rook-and-pawn endgame, where neither side found a clear path to victory.
The game ended with a repetition of moves, resulting in a draw. After a rigorous nine-game battle throughout the championship, Ju emerged as the champion, solidifying her status and marking the 16th time a Chinese player has claimed the women's world championship title.