Lichess was providing a live stream for every day of the Women’s World Championship on our Twitch or YouTube channels with our hosts GM Toms Kantāns and WIM Jesse February, joined by a rotating panel of guests.
Additionally, we covered every game in our blog, with annotations by WIM Silvia Raluca Sgîrcea for games 1-6 and WGM Petra Papp for games 7-9.
The annotations by WGM Petra Papp for Game 9 can be found here.
Lichess has also run player profiles on GM Ju Wenjun and GM Tan Zhongyi, and published a Match Preview ahead of the match.
Videos
Annotations by WGM Petra Papp
https://lichess.org/study/5bQdsZ7u/pBnxlWC7#0
Match Score
Match Recap
With the two players testing the waters – largely as to be expected in a World Championship match – in a rather uneventful game 1, Tan was the first one to score a win, in game 2, by exploiting her opponent’s mistake in the rook endgame. Ju was able to equalize the score in the very next game by capitalizing her better endgame position, and her opponent’s mistakes in handling an already difficult position. Everything pointed towards a rather close match, with decisive games to be expected, after game 4 draw, however Ju was able to go on an impressive four-wins streak, getting the match to a score of 6-2, and requiring only a draw to claim the title, which she was able to secure in game 9. In this unexpected turn, Ju was able to convincingly achieve her 5th Women’s World Championship title, with a final score of 6.5-2.5 (+5-1=3)
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship trophy.
Anna Shtourman / FIDE
Game 9 Recap
After an impressive four-wins streak, Ju needed only a draw to reach the required 6.5 points and win the match. And this is exactly what happened in the 9th – and ultimately final – game of the match. Ju, throughout the whole match and until the very end, remained faithful to her 1.e4, with the two players entering a Rossolimo, albeit a different variation than in game 7. Today, Ju decided to go with the main line, 5.Re1 (instead of 5.d4), with Tan replying …Nd4. This is the second most popular move in the positions (although far less common than a6), and can be used to create an imbalance in the pawn structure. Ju approached the position with a Na3-Nc2 maneuver, resulting in an isolated d-pawn for her. Tan seemed to be well within her preparation, having 1:25 on her clock compared to her opponent’s 1:08 after 15 moves, despite having entered relatively uncharted paths.
https://lichess.org/study/pDPC5ZRh/DaTEY6Gc#30
The handshake before the game.
Anna Shtourman / FIDE
After all the exchanges, the resulting position was pretty solid and equal for white. The isolated d pawn might look like a weakness – and indeed it is a target black will aim for – however even when Tan captures it, she won’t be able to hold onto the extra material. Ju’s superior piece placement and activity, with the light square bishop targeting the long diagonal and the rooks ready to join the game, while Tan still needs a few moves to untangle and develop hers, would be sufficient to shortly get the pawn back. Indeed after 17…Nxd4, 18.Rd1 forces black to play e5 and get a pawn on d4 at the end of the line. Of course that could be a strength in different scenarios, however with no pieces ready to support it, black can control it and capture it back.
https://lichess.org/study/pDPC5ZRh/DaTEY6Gc#44
Tan needed to win all of the remaining four games to stay in the match.
Anna Shtourman / FIDE
With the queens also exchanged, Ju and Tan enter a position with two rooks, a light squared bishop, and no exploitable weakness on either camp. This could only favour Ju, who only had to further simplify the position without the need for any unnecessary risks, and secure the draw, together with the title. 23. Bd5 was the first step towards this plan, aiming to sooner or later exchange the bishop, and if possible a pair of rooks, while preventing any counterplay ideas by Tan. Goal which was, a few moves later achieved
https://lichess.org/study/pDPC5ZRh/DaTEY6Gc#65
The five-time Women’s World Chess Champion: Ju Wenjun.
Anna Shtourman / FIDE
In the resulting rook endgame, no side could realistically push to make any progress, and the game ended in a draw only a few moves later, with Ju achieving her 5th Women’s World Chess Championship in her career.