The 17th Women's World Champion
On 18th of May 2018, the chess world got a new World Champion in the form of Ju Wenjun. She beat the reigning Women's World Champion Tan Zhongyi in a ten-game match in China with a score of 5½ : 4½.
The score of the match — click or tap any result to open that game
Part 1
Niklesh Jain (NJ): What do you have to say about your opponent Tan Zhongyi? How did she play?
Ju Wenjun (JW): Well, I knew Tan Zhongyi since she the year 2000. We would play the national youth championships together! She is quite talented and becoming one of the stars of Chinese chess. We are very good friends. I think maybe because she didn’t make a good start, it was more stressful for her, which made her nervous. I feel this is not her best performance. But still, she is a true fighter and she fought right until the very end! I have nothing but respect for my opponent.

Tan Zhongyi's reign as the World Champion was short, but we can be sure that she would have many shots at the title in future | Photo: Official website
NJ: How do you see your performance at the World Championship? Do you think you played well, or you feel that a lot of the things that happened in the match were dictated by pressure?
JW: I think my performance at the event was quite good. I had a very big problem in the first round — I spent a lot of time in the opening and was just left with ten minutes with a lot of pieces on the board. Somehow I managed to draw that game. But I realized my weakness of playing too slow and started playing faster and also began to understand her choice of openings. After I started to manage my time well, my results improved and I began to lead the tournament. When I feel a lot of pressure or negative feelings I listen to some music or go for walks with my coach. I think the one who is leading in the match usually has less pressure.

Ni Hua was Ju Wenjun's coach and going for long walks with him helped Ju Wenjun to gain the much-needed composure for the match | Photo: Official website
Game two
The first of the two decisive games for Ju Wenjun that gave her a solid lead in the match:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.d3 Bxc3+ 4.bxc3 d6 5.g3 f5 6.Bg2 Nf6 7.Rb1 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 c5 9.Nd2 Nc6 10.f4 Be6 11.e4 exf4 12.Rxf4 Qd7 13.Rb1 Rae8 14.Qf1 fxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 b6 7...c6 8.Nf3 Qc7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5N 10.Qb3 c5 11.Ng5 Nc6 12.Qb5 h6 13.Nh3 Na5 14.f4 e4 10...Nbd7 11.Nd2 h6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.e4 Be6 14.Bh3 Qd7 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Qxf5 17.Ne4 Qd7 18.Qb3?! 18.Re1= 18...Nxe4 19.dxe4 Rf7 20.Rfd1 Qg4 21.Rxd6 Qe2 22.Rf1 22.Qb2= Qxe4 23.c5 22...Raf8! 23.c5 Kh7 24.Qd1 Qxa2 25.Qb1 Qc4! 26.Rd2 a5! 26...Qxc3 27.Qc2 26...Qxc5 27.Qb4 27.Qb6 Qxc3-+ 28.Rb2 h5 29.Ra2 a4! 30.Qb2 Qxc5 31.Rxa4 g6 32.Qd2 Kg7 33.Ra5 Qd4! 34.Qxd4 exd4 35.f4 Rd8 36.Kf2 b6 36...Rc7 37.Ke2 c5 37.Ra6= c5 38.Rxb6 Ra7 39.f5? 39.Rc6= 39...gxf5-+ 40.exf5 d3 41.Rc6? Ra2+ 42.Kf3 d2 43.Rc7+ Kf6 44.Rc6+ Ke7 45.Rd1 Rc2! 46.h3 c4 47.g4 hxg4+ 48.hxg4 Rc1 49.Ke2 c3 50.Rc7+ Kf6 51.Rc6+ Kg5 52.Kf3 Rg8 52...Rxd1 53.Rg6+ Kh4 54.Rh6+ Kg5 55.Rg6+= 53.Ke2 Rh8 54.Rd6 Rxd1 55.Kxd1 Rh1+ 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Tan,Z | 2522 | Ju,W | 2571 | 0–1 | 2018 | A21 | Womens World Championship Match 2018 | 2 |
Please, wait...
Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.
Game three
With this win, Ju Wenjun moved to 2.5 points as compared to Tan Zhongyi's 0.5.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.0-0 Rb8 7.Nc3 b5 7...a6 8.e4 Be7 9.d5 exd5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Ne5 Bf5 12.a3 Nd3 13.Nxc4 Nxc1 14.Rxc1 0-0= 8.Ne5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.Qc2 Bb7 11.Bxb7 Rxb7 12.Rd1 Be7N 12...Qc8 13.a4 b4 14.Nb5 a6 15.Nd4 c5 16.Nf3 12...Qc8 13.Ne4 Nxe5 14.b3 f5 15.Bb2 Nc6 16.Nd2 13.Qe4 Qc8 14.Qg4 g5? 14...Bf8= 15.Qh5! 15...Nc5 15...b4 16.Bxg5 c6 17.Rd4 Rd7? 17...Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Rd7+- 18.Bxe7! Kxe7 19.Qh4+ Ke8 20.Rad1 Qd8 21.Qf4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Ke7= 22...Qb6 23.Rd6 Rf8 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Qb7 26.Rxc6 Kd7 27.Qd4+ 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Ju,W | 2571 | Tan,Z | 2522 | 1–0 | 2018 | E04 | Womens World Championship Match 2018 | 3 |
Please, wait...
The Catalan is one of the most solid openings for White. It forms part of the large and strong fianchetto family in which White builds his strategy mainly around the bishop on g2. Grandmaster Victor Bologan covers all of Black’s replies to the Catalan, some of which can even transpose to other openings such as the Tarrasch System and the Queen’s Indian. Suffice it to say that the Catalan rules!
Game four
Tan Zhongyi shows great mental strength and pulls one back!
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Tap into your creative mind and start the game on a fresh note. The Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is an opening outside of conventional wisdom. Create challenges and make your opponent solve problems early on.
Angela Franco (AF): Which was your favourite game of the match?
JW: My favourite was the fifth game, which I won with black pieces.
Tan Zhongyi vs Ju Wenjun, Game 5
I am very happy that [in the above position] I played h6 and stopped her idea of Bg5.
In this position [left], I went for the move Bd7! It is a good move because if 17.fxe4 then Bg4! 18.Nf3 and dxe4 wins the piece.
I also liked the idea of the knight coming to f5 [right] and I felt that I was just dominating the game.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 a5 6.a4 Bb4+ 7.c3 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.exd5 cxd5 10.Na3 Nbd7 11.Re1 h6 12.Nb5 Bb8 13.d4 e4 14.Nd2 Nb6 15.f3 Re8 16.Bc2 Bd7 17.Rb1 exf3 18.Nxf3 Ne4 19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Bxb5 21.axb5 Rxe5 22.Be3 Re6 23.Bd4 Nc4 24.Bd3 Qg5 25.b3 Ncd6 26.Rb2 Rae8 27.Rbe2 Nf5 28.Bc2 Nh4 29.Qd3 Ng6 30.Be3 Qh5 31.c4 Ne5 32.Qd4 Rg6 33.Bxe4 dxe4 34.Kf1 Nf3 35.Qd7 Nxh2+ 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Tan,Z | 2522 | Ju,W | 2571 | 0–1 | 2018 | C24 | WCh Women 2018 | 5 |
Please, wait...
Studying the content of this DVD and adding these openings to your repertoire will provide players with a very strong tool to fight 1...e5 - as the practice of the author clearly demonstrates.

Game five in progress. According to Ju Wenjun, this was her best performance in the match! | Photo: Official website
NJ: In the sixth game it looked like you would be able to hold a draw, but you lost the game. What happened?
JW: Well, you know it was a long game. She played well in the endgame and was able to outplay me. By the way, there was no pawn move for 40 moves! If we had made ten more moves without she being unable to checkmate me or without a pawn move, I would have been able to claim a draw! I was not confident about my memory, so the arbiters checked the scoresheet and when I realized it was not yet 50 moves, I resigned!
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
The third part of the endgame series tackles queen endings, rook against minor pieces, queen against rook and queen against two rooks. Queen endings are not nearly as mysterious as they appear at first sight. Knowing a few rules of thumb and principles will make things very much easier for you.
Over 7 hours video training.

The queen endgame that went on for many, many moves, ended as a win for Tan Zhongyi in game six | Photo: Official website
[After Tan's sixth-round win, Ju Wenjun's lead was narrowed down to one point. But the last four rounds ended in draws and this meant that Ju Wenjun became the Women's World Champion. -Ed.]

Ju Wenjun received the title of Women's World Champion and a cheque of €120,000 for her efforts | Photo: Official website
NJ: Now that you are the Women's World Champion, you have the pressure of retaining the title! Who do you think are your biggest rivals for this title?
JW: The next World Championship will be a Knock-Out event in Russia, towards the end of this year. In a Knockout format, anything can happen. I think all the women players above the rating of 2500 have a good chance of winning the World Championship title.
NJ: How are you planning to celebrate this victory?
JW: Relax, listen to some music, go to some live show if possible!
Part 2 of the interview will follow soon. with some focus on the World Championship, but also on other important issues...
Links
About the authors

This interview was been a joint effort by ChessBase India Hindi's editor-in-chief Niklesh Jain and Colombian WIM Angela Franco.
The duo live 16,000 kilometres away from each other but the game of chess has brought them together.