Women's WCC Game 1: A cautious draw to start the match

by Johannes Fischer
4/3/2025 – The 2025 Women's World Championship between defending champion Ju Wenjun and challenger Tan Zhongyi began with a cautious and unspectacular draw. Ju Wenjun had white, but could not find a way against Tan Zhongyi's determination to simplify in order not to lose the opening game with black. | Photo: Anna Shtourman
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No major complications

There is no clear favourite in this competition. Ju Wenjun is in second place in the current women's world rankings with a rating of 2561, followed six points behind by Tan Zhongyi in third place with a rating of 2555. The opening game began correspondingly cautiously. Tan Zhongyi seemed to be well-prepared and played decisively and quickly, so she ended the game with 45 minutes left on the clock.

Ju Wenjun took a little more time for her moves, but also played quickly. However, neither of them had any major problems to solve. In a game without any major complications, Tan Zhongyi easily held a draw with black.

Tan Zhongyi

Tan Zhongyi | Photo: Anna Shtourman

Women's World Chess Championship 2025

Little kids visited the playing hall in Shanghai | Photo: Anna Shtourman

Women's World Chess Championship 2025

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Johannes Fischer was born in 1963 in Hamburg and studied English and German literature in Frankfurt. He now lives as a writer and translator in Nürnberg. He is a FIDE-Master and regularly writes for KARL, a German chess magazine focusing on the links between culture and chess. On his own blog he regularly publishes notes on "Film, Literature and Chess".