A Throne of One’s Own

After School Special

A Pure Formality

And here below is the 9th and last game of one of the most one-sided world matches in chess history, which we give just for ”duty of chronicle”:

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 9; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 16, 2025

Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Re1 Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. c3 a6 8. Bf1 Nc6 9. Na3 Be7 10. Nc2 d5 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 dxe4 13. d3 exd3 14. Bxd3 0-0 15. Be4 Bf6 16. Be3 g6 17. Qb3 Bxd4 18. Rad1 e5 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Qb4 a5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Be6 23. Bd5 Rfd8 24. Red1 Rac8 25. Kf1 Rd6 26. Bxe6 Rxe6 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kg7 29. Rd7 b6 30. g4 Kf6 31. Rb7 h5 32. gxh5 gxh5 33. Kg2 Kg6 34. Kg3 f6 35. h4 Kf5 36. Rh7 Kg6 37. Rb7 Kf5 38. Rh7 Kg6 39. Rb7 ½–½. And thus 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) successfully defended her title for the fourth time.

Once again, the inseparable couple, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and 倪华 (Ní Huá), proved the harmony of their partnership. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

But Not Today

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 8; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 14, 2025

Vienna Game C28

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0 Bxc3 7. bxc3 0-0 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Na5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 Qe7 12. Re1 Qe6 13. d4 Nd7 14. Qd3 a6 15. Rad1 Re8 16. Bg3 b5 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. b4 Nh5 19. Nb3 Qg6 20. dxe5 Nxg3 21. hxg5 Rxe5 22. Na5 Bd7 23. Re3 Rae8 24. Rde1 f5 25. Qd4 Rxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxe4 fxe4 28. c4

It had to be revenge, but not yet. After 28 moves 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) was down a Pawn and the one begging for a draw, but once again 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) showed a rather fairy touch:
28. ... e3! 29. Qxe3 Qxc2 30. Qa7 bxc4 31. Qxc7 Bb5 32. Nb7 (32. Qxd6 c3−+)
32. ... c3 33. Nxd6 Qd3 34. Qf7+ Kh7 35. Nf5 Qd7 36. Qxd7 (36. Ne7 Qe8 37. Qf5+ g6 38. Qc5 c2−+)
36. ... Bxd7 37. Nd4 Ba4 38. Ne2 c2 39. f3 Kg6 40. Kf2 Bb5 41. Nc1 h5 42. Ke3 Kg5 43. Kd2

43. ... Bf1! 44. Nb3 Bxg2 45. Nd4 Bxf3!! 46. Nxf3+ Kg4 47. Nd4 Kxg3 48. Nf5+ Kg4 49. Ne3+ Kf3! 50. Nxc2 h4 51. Ne1+ Kg3 52. Ke3 h3 53. Nf3 h2 0–1.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) won her fourth game in a row and is now just a draw away from the longed-for crown. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

A Knight for a Queen

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 7; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 13, 2025

Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 Ng6 9. c4 Be7 10. Nc3 0-0 11. Na4 Qc7 12. c5 d5 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Qh5 Rb8 15. b3 Rd8 16. Rd1 Rb4 17. Bb2 Nf4 18. Qf3 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 Ba6 20. Rdd1 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Qc3 Bf8 23. Nc5 Rb6 24. Qe5 Qe7 25. Rac1 Rb5 26. Rxd8 Qxd8 27. Qd4 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Bc8 29. e5 Qxd4 30. Bxd4 a5 31. f4 h5 32. Kf2 Be7 33. Ke3 g5 34. Ne4 gxf4+ 35. Kxf4

35. ... Bb7? How to bury a Bishop in Knight manure.
36. Bc5! Bxc5 37. Nxc5 Kg7?! If 37. ... a4!? then 38. Kg5! (38. Nxa4? c5! is no clear at all) 38. ... axb3 39. axb3 Bc8 40. Kf6! Kf8 41. Rc4! with overwhelming advantage.
38. Kg5 Ba8?! Sad, but after 38. ... a4 39. Rc4! axb3 40. axb3 Bc8 41. b4 Rb8 42. Rd4 Black would also end up badly zugzwanged.
39. Kxh5 Rb8 40. Rc4 Rh8+ 41. Kg4 Rh2 42. Kg3 Rh5 43. Rg4+ Kf8 44. Ra4 Ke7 45. Rxa5 Rxe5 46. Ra7+ Kd6 47. b4! 1–0.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) scored her third victory in a row, and is just a stone’s throw away from reconfirming her title. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

Salt & Pepper

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 6; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 10, 2025

English Opening A13

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 d4 8. 0-0 Be7 9. Na3 0-0 10. e3 dxe3 11. dxe3 Bf5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Qc8 14. Qe2 Bh3 15. Qf3 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qe6 17. Bb2 Ne4 18. Rfd1 Rad8 19. Nc4 b5 20. Ne5 f5 21. Nd3 g5 22. Ne1 Bf6 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Rd1 Rxd1 26. Qxd1 Qd6 27. Qh5 Kg7 28. Qe8 a6 29. Nf3 Nf6 30. Qa8 h6

31. h4? 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) is unjustificably playing for a win, with the direct consequence that she will be losing her second game in a row! If anything, the ending ensuing from 31. a4 Qd5 was still sustainable.
31. ... g4! 32. Qb7+ Qd7! 33. Qxd7+ Nxd7. Now the ending is theoretically lost for White, as Black is the only one that can create a passed Pawn.
34. Nd2 Kf6 35. f4 Ke6! 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) brings home the point with superb technique.
36. e4 fxe4 37. Nxe4 Kd5 38. Nf2 Nf6 39. Kf1 Kd4 40. Ke2 h5 41. a4 Kc3 42. axb5 axb5 43. Nd3 Ne4 44. Ke3 Nxg3 45. Nxc5 Nf5+ 46. Ke4 Nxh4 47. Ke5 Kb4 48. Ne4 Kxb3 49. Kf6 Nf3 50. f5 h4 51. Ke7 g3 52. f6 g2 0–1.

With the 上海 (Shànghǎi) half of the match being over, it is time to switch to the next half in 重庆 (Chóngqìng). Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

豆浆 (Dòujiāng)

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 5; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 9, 2025

Sicilian Defence B42

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. 0-0 Ne7 8. c4 Nbc6 9. Nc3 Ne5 10. c5!?

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s novelty apparently upset 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) so much that she broke away:
10. ... N7g6 (10. ... b6!)
11. Be2 b5? 11. ... b6! was again in order here.
12. f4 Nc4 13. a4! b4 14. Bxc4 bxc3 15. bxc3. Here the engines give priority to the powerful 15. Qd4! — a move 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) did not think too seriously of.
15. ... Bb7 16. Qe2. Once again, 16. Qd4! would be the strongest move, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) seems to be happy enough with her extra Pawn.
16. ... 0-0 17. Bd3 f5? Another unsound decision by 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) that will hasten her own downfall. 17. ... Qc7! would keep Black in the way, and would give her thread to spin.
18. exf5 exf5 19. Be3 Qc7?! Black abandons the a-Pawn — a bet that won’t pay off.
20. Bxa6 Rfe8 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. Bd4 Re6 24. h3 Rae8 25. Rf2 Bb8 26. Raf1

26. ... Nxf4!? A last desperate attempt by 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) to survive, and one cannot blame her for it.
27. Rxf4 Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Re1+ 29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Qe4. Threatening mate on e1.
31. Kg1! Qb1+ 32. Kh2 Re1

Black is now hoping for a draw by perpetual check, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) is here to win:
33. Qd5! h6 34. Nd2! Rh1+ 35. Kg3 Qe1+ 36. Bf2 Qe2 (36. ... f4+!? 37. Kf3 Rxh3+! 38. Kg4! h5+ 39. Kf5+−)
37. Qd4 Rd1 38. Be3 Kh7 39. a5 Re1 40. Bf2 Rd1 41. Be3 Re1 42. Nc4 Ra1 43. Nd6 Ra2 44. Bf2 Qe6 45. Qf4 Kg6 46. Kh2 Qf6 47. Nc4 Kh7 48. Bd4 Qe6 49. Nd6 Qg6 50. Qf3 f4 51. a6 Rxa6 52. Qxf4 Ra2 53. Qf3 Qe6 54. Nf5 g5 55. Ne3 d6 56. c6 Ra8 57. Nd5 Rc8 58. Qd3+ Kg8 59. Ne7+! 1–0. For after 59. ... Qxe7 60. Qg6+ Kf8 61. Qf5+ wins the Rook next move.

Traditional 上海菜 (Shànghǎinese cuisine) is not known for being spicy. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

Not Enough

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 4; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 7, 2025

English Opening A13

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Qb3 Ba5 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. e3 Nge7 7. Nge2 0-0 8. 0-0 a6 9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Be3 Bxc3 13. Nxc3 Na5 14. Qb4 Nac6 15. Qc5 b6 16. Qa3 Be6 17. Rac1 Nf5 18. Bf4 Nfxd4 19. Rfd1 Nb5 20. Nxb5 axb5 21. Qb3 Ne7 22. Qxb5 Rxa2 23. Bc7 Qa8 24. Bd6 Ra5 25. Qb4 Ra4 26. Qb3 Ra7 27. Rc7 Rxc7 28. Bxc7 Qc6 29. Qxb6 Qc2 30. Bf3 Bf5 31. Bf4 Be4 32. Rc1 Qd3 33. Bxe4 Qxe4 34. Qe3 Qxe3 35. Bxe3 f6 36. Rc7 Nf5 37. Bc5 Rd8 38. Kf1 Nd6

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) may have her good reasons for regretting how very little she accomplished today, but of the many critical points in question, this one is particularly emblematic:
39. b4. Old Steinitz, according to whom the King was a strong piece, would turn in his grave if he saw such a move! 39. Ke2! Ne4 40. Kd3± was obvious, and obviously strong.
39. ... Ne4 40. Bb6 Rb8 41. Ba5 Rb5 42. Ke2 Nd6 43. Ra7 Nc4 44. Kd3 Ne5+ 45. Kc2 d4 46. Kb3 Rd5 47. Bb6 d3 48. Ra1 Nf3 49. Rd1 Kf7 50. Kc3 d2 51. Be3 Ke6 52. Bxd2 Nxh2 53. Re1+ Kd7 54. Be3 Ng4 55. Bc5 Ne5 56. Ra1 Ke6 57. f4 Nd7 58. Re1+ Kf5 59. Kc4 Rd2 60. Re7 Nxc5 61. bxc5 g5 62. fxg5 fxg5 63. Rxh7 Rc2+ 64. Kd4 Rd2+ 65. Kc4 Rc2+ 66. Kb5 Rc3 67. c6 Rxg3 68. c7 Rc3 69. Kb6 Kf4 70. Rf7+ Ke4 71. Rg7 Kf4 72. Rg6 Rxc7 73. Kxc7 g4 74. Kd6 g3 75. Kd5 Kf3 76. Kd4 g2 77. Kd3 Kf2 78. Rf6+ Ke1 79. Rg6 Kf2 80. Rxg2+ Kxg2 ½–½.

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) kept the initiative in her own hands all the time, but did not manage to turn it into a tangible, positive outcome for her. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

Stone and Steel

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 3; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 6, 2025

Sicilian Defence B44

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. Be2 d5 8. exd5 exd5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. 0-0 0-0 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bf3 Be6 13. Bg5 Bxc3 15. Qa4 h6 16. Bd2 a5 17. Rfe1 Rc4 18. Qa3 Nf5 19. Be2 Rc8 20. Rad1 Qd6 21. Qxa5 Ra8 22. Qb4 Rxa2 23. Bf4 Qc6 24. Bb5 Qb6 25. Re2 Rfa8 26. Bd3 Ra1 27. Ree1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Qd8 29. h3 Qf6 30. Re1 Rc8 31. Be5 Qg5 32. Ba6 Ra8 33. Bf4 Qf6 34. Bb7 Rd8 35. Bc7 Rf8 36. Rd1 Qg5 37. Bxd5 Ne3 38. h4 Qg4 39. Qxg4 Bxg4 40. Rd3 Nxd5 41. Rxd5 Ra8 42. Bb6 Be6 43. Rd6 Kf8 44. Bd4 Ke7 45. Rb6 g6 46. Kh2 h5 47. Kg3 Ra5 48. Kf4 Kd7 49. g3 Rf5+ 50. Ke3 Ra5 51. Rb4 Bd5 52. Bb6 Ra3 53. Kd4 Be6 54. Bc5 Ra2 55. Kd3 Bf5+ 56. Ke3 Be6 57. Bd4 Kc6 58. c4 Kc7 59. c5 Bd5 60. Kf4

Had Black continued with 60. ... Re2! 61. Kg5 Re4, White’s extra Pawn would be of little value, but after hours of strain and defence, 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)’s nerves couldn’t take any longer.
60. ... Bc6? 61. Kg5! Now White’s King penetrates with decisive effect.
61. ... Ra4 62. Be5+ Kd7 63. Rb2 Ke6 64. Bf4 Rc4 65. Be3 Ke5 66. Rb8 Bd7 67. Rd8 Be6 68. Rd6 Rc2 69. Kh6 Kf6 70. Rd1 Rc4 71. Rd6 Rc2 72. Bd4+ Kf5 73. f3 Rc4 74. c6 Rc1 75. Kg7 g5 76. hxg5 Kxg5 77. Bb6. Here the check at e3 was immediately fatal.
77. ... Kf5 78. c7 Rc3 79. Ba5 Rc5 80. Ra6 Rc4 81. Kf8 Bd5 2. Ke7 h4 83. Rf6+ Ke5 84. gxh4 Be6 85. h5 Rc5 86. h6 Bc8 87. h7 1–0.

Once again, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) demonstrated her exceptional strength of character and steady energy. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

In a Wing Chair

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 2; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 4, 2025

English Opening A29

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d3 h6 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Bd2 Qd6 11. Bc3 Qe7 12. Nd2 Nd4 13. e3 Nb5 14. a4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 c6 16. a5 Bd7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Ne4 Bd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. d4 b6 21. axb6 axb6 22. Ra7 Be6 23. Qa4 Rfc8 24. Rb1 Bd5 (24. ... b5 25. Qa6 h5 26. h4 Bc4=)
25. dxe5 Qxe5 26. Qd4 Qxd4 27. exd4 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 b5 29. Re1 Ra8 30. Ree7 Rxa7 31. Rxa7 c5 32. Kf3 cxd4 33. cxd4 Kf8 34. Rb7 Rc3+ 35. Ke4 Rc2 36. Ke3 Rc3+ 37. Kd2 Rf3 38. Ke2

38. ... Rf5!? Many commentators were surprised by 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s solution. It may work, after all, but 38. ... Rb3! was much easier and more thematic; for example: 39. d5 Ke8 40. d6 Ra3 41. Rxb5 g6 42. Re5+ Kd7 43. Re7+ Kxd6 44. Rxf7 Ke6 with a draw coming soon.
39. Ke3 h5 40. f4

40. ... Ke8? No wonder Judit Polgár did not miss the critical moment: “This is move 40 — how typical it is that you make a serious mistake on move 40!”. 40. ... b4!! 41. Kxb4 Ra5 was now the only way to go for a draw.
41. Ke4 Rf6 42. Rxb5 g6 43. d5 Ra6 44. Ke5 f6+ 45. Kd4 Ra2 46. Kc5 Rxh2 47. Rb8+ Kd7 48. Rb7+ Kc8 49. Rg7 g5 50. f5! Of course not 50. fxg5?? in view of 50. ... fxg5 51. Rxg5 h4 forcing a draw.
50. ... h4 51. gxh4 gxh4 52. Rh7 h3. With a salvific intention, for a salvific twisting: Δ ... Rh2-c2+ followed by ... h3-h2 saving the day with a draw.

53. Kd6! Kb8 54. Kd7 Kb7 55. d6 Kb6 56. Kd8 Rh1 57. d7 h2 58. Rh3 Kb7 59. Rb3+ Ka7 60. Rb2 Ka6 61. Re2 Kb7 62. Ke7 1–0.

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) took such merciless advantage of her opponent’s hesitations and inaccuracies. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

First is not best

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 1; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 3, 2025

Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bf4 d5 8. Nd2 g6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. 0-0 a5 12. Qe2 0-0 13. Rad1 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. c4 Ne5 16. exd5 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 cxd5

18. Qe3! 18. cxd5 Ba6 19. Nc4 exd5 20. Qxd5 Rfd8 would give Black more than enough compensation for the Pawn.
18. ... Qg5! 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. cxd5 exd5 21. Rfe1 (21. Nf3 g4 22. Nd4 Re8)
21. ... Rb8 22. b3 g4 23. Nf1

23. ... a4! 24. bxa4 Rb4 25. a5 Ra4. As Judit Polgár noted, “It’s frustrating to defend something which is completely drawish — just because objectively it is it doesn’t mean that you can hold it!”.
26. Rxd5 Be6 27. Rc5 Rxa2 28. Ne3 Ra8 29. Nd5 R8xa5 30. Rxa5 Rxa5 31. Nf4 Bf5 32. h3 gxh3 33. Nxh3 Bxh3 34. gxh3 Kg7 35. Kg2 Rg5+ 36. Kf3 Rf5+ 37. Kg2 Rg5+ 38. Kf3 Rf5+ 39. Kg2 ½–½.

Despite playing Black, the challenger held her own, with apparent ease, throughout the whole game. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

A Crown of Wishes

The Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 will take place in 上海 (Shànghǎi) and 重庆 (Chóngqìng), China, April 3–21. Will 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) regain the crown she won in 2017? Or will 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) win the match, and her fifth consecutive world title?

Hit a Grand Slam

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), the first Chinese woman to win all three World Chess Championship titles in classical, rapid and blitz time controls, enjoyed a triumphant homecoming by 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s highest authorities on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Such a celebration must be regarded as a reassuring signal for her, in view of the next Women’s World Chess Championship which will kick off at April in 上海 (Shànghǎi), when she will have to defend her title against 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí).

In the pictures above 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s being warmly welcomed in her native 普陀区 (Pǔtuó District) by her fellow citizens. Photos: 佳斌 (Jiā Bīn).

One Plus One Equals Three

Magnus Carlsen and Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi, the two finalists of the 12th World Blitz Chess Championship, being still tied after three tie-breakers, gave rise to an unprecedented outcome as they asked and obtained — on Carlsen’s suggestion — that the title should be shared. FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich welcomed the request and proclaimed them both World Champions! The whole story sounds like a terrifying display of strength — not only in chess — by Carlsen, who succeeded in imposing his authority upon FIDE, which was not appreciated by many of his colleagues. But he didn’t care about it. “It feels very good to share gold with Nepo. We reached a point where it had been a long day. We played many games, we had three draws and I felt that I could keep playing. But it was a nice solution to share the win, it was a good way to end it”, Carlsen told to the Norwegian media NRK. For the second time in less than a week, President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin took pen and paper and wrote a congratulatory telegram to a Russian World Champion, who “deservedly became World Champion, sharing this honourable title with the virtuoso Magnus Carlsen. Well done!”.
As for the other half of the sky, in the 10th Women’s World Blitz Chess Championship, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), the queen of 上海 (Shànghǎi), did not indulge in such magnanimity with 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié). Once again she defeated her long-time friend (frenemy) in a final, if not classical, to win her first world title in the blitz specialty.
One final consideration concerns the fact or detail that this time, with the exception of Carlsen, all the World Rapid and Blitz Champions belong to countries which are members of the Asian Chess Federation. If anything, it should be something for Western supremacists to think about.

Laughing Matters

Behind the scenes at 2023 Women’s World Chess Championship match: 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) burst out into liberating laughter.

She Too

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Polina Sergeevna Shuvalova

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Final match game 1; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, September 5, 2024

Semi-Tarrasch Defence D41

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 0-0 11. Bc4 b6 12. d5 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. d6 Nc5 15. e5 f6

16. exf6. If 16. 0-0 then 16. ... Rf7 17. Rad1 Rc8 18. Qe3 Rd7 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Nd4 Qe8 21. Rfe1 Qf7 22. h4 Re8 23. Rd2 Kh8 24. Nc6 Qg7 25. Ne7 Red8 26. Red1 Qf7 27. Rd4 e5 28. R4d2 Qe6 29. Qf3 e4 30. Qf5 Qxf5 31. Nxf5 Kg8 32. g4 Kf7 33. h5 Ke6 34. Rd4 Rg8 35. f3 Rgd8 36. Kg2 exf3+ 37. Kxf3 Nb7 38. Re1+ Kf7 39. Rde4 Nxd6 40. Re7+ Kf8 41. Rxd7 ½–½ Kortschnoi – Mecking, 47th Hastings International Chess Congress, Hastings 1972.
16. ... Qxf6 17. 0-0 Rad8 18. Rad1 Rd7 19. Rfe1 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Rxd6 21. Qxd6 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 h6

23. h3!? And finally, here is the novelty! Yet nothing is so new under the sun: 23. Rd4 Kh7 24. h4 g6 25. g3 g5 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Kg2 Qf5 28. Nf3 Kh6 29. Re5 Qc2 30. Nxg5 Qxa2? (30. ... Kg6! 31. Rd6 Kf6 32. Nf3 Qxa2 33. Re3) 31. Nf3 Qc2 32. Rh4+ Kg6 33. Rf4 1–0 C. Horváth – Pčola, 17th Mitropa Cup, Montecatini Terme 1997.
23. ... Kh7 24. Rd4 Qf5 25. Re2 b5 26. g4 Qb1+ 27. Kg2 a5 28. h4 g5. Otherwise there follows h4-h5, Ne5-g6, and Rd4-d8-h8#.
29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Nf3

30. ... Kg6? Unlike the game mentioned in the note above, here Black’s fate is sealed by an erroneous King move, in an attempt to get closer to the sensible area. Instead, correct was 30. ... Kh6! 31. Re5 Qc2 32. Rxg5 (32. Rd6 Qc4=) 32. ... Nd3 33. Rh5+ Kg7 34. Rd7+ Kg6 35. Rd8+ Kg7 36. Rd7+ with a draw by perpetual check.
31. Re5 Nd3. Or 31. ... Qc1 32. Rd6 with decisive gains.
32. Rxe6+ Kf7. A kind of help-mate, but 32. ... Kg7 33. Nxg5 also gives no hope.
33. Nxg5+ Kf8 34. Rd8+ Kg7 35.Rd7+ Kf8 36. Rf7+ Kg8 37. Re8# 1–0.

Once again, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) followed in the footsteps of her most illustrious peer 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), finally winning the coveted Women’s Speed Chess Champion Crown. Screenshot from the live stream.

卡珊德拉 (Cassandra)

Crescendo

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
86th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 27, 2024
Dutch Defence A90

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nh3 Bd6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. b3 dxc4 8. bxc4 c5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Bb2 Qb6 11. Qb3. If 11. Ba3 Black can reply 11. ... Qd8 offering a draw by repetition.
11. ... cxd4 12. exd4 Na5. Not 12. ... Nxd4?? because of 13. Qxb6 Ne2+ 14. Kh1 axb6 15. Re1 trapping the Knight.
13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Nd2 Rac8 16. Bf1 Rc7. 16. ... Bb4 17. Nf3 Rfd8 also gives Black comfortable equality.
17. Nb3 Ra8 18. f3 Nc6 19. c5 bxc5 20. Nxc5 h6 21. Nxd7 Rxd7 22. Nf2?! A little better is 22. Bb5 Rc7 with roughly even chances.
22. ... Ba3!

23. Rcb1? This loses a Pawn, which might have been avoided by 23. Bxa3 Rxa3 24. Bb5 Rxd4 25. Bxc6 bxc6 26. Rxc6 Kf7 leaving Black with an easier ending — but no certainty of a win.
23. ... Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Nxd4 25. f4 Ra3 26. Rab1 Nd5

27. Nd3. After 27. Rxb7? Rxb7 28. Rxb7 Rxa2 White has no decent defence against the threat of 29. ... Nf3+ 30. Kg2 Ne1+ 31. Kg1 Ne3 winning material.
27. ... Nc3! 28. Ra1. 28. Rc1 is also answered by 28. ... b5! with a dominant advantage.
28. ... b5! 29. Nb4 Nd1! 30. Rg2. If 30. Rxd1 then 30. ... Nf3+ 31. Kf2 Rxd1 32. Be2 Rd2! winning.
30. ... Ne3 31. Rb2 g5! Black’s crescendo is irresistible.
32. fxg5 hxg5 33. Bg2 Rc7 34. Re1 Rc4 35. Bb7 Kg7 36. Kf2 f4! 37. gxf4 gxf4 38. Rg1+ Kf6 39. h4

39. ... Rxb4! 0 : 1. For mate follows after 40. Rxb4 Rxa2+ 41. Ke1 Re2#.

Thanks to today’s win, 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) can still hope for the happiest ending. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Downfall

Nodirbek Abdusattorov – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
86th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 26, 2024
Two Knights Defence C55

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. Bb3 a5 7. c4!? (7. c3 d5 8. Nbd2 Be6 9. Re1 dxe4 10. dxe4 Qc8 11. a4 Bc5 12. Nc4 Bg4 13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Ne3 Bh5 15. Nf5 Kh8 16. Ng3 Bg6 17. Nh4 Ra6 18. Bc4 Rb6 19. Bb5 h6 20. Bc1 Nf6 21. Nhf5 Ne7 22. Be3 Nxf5 23. Bxc5 Nxg3 24. Bxb6 Rd8 25. Qb3 Ngxe4 26. Be3 Ng4 27. Bf1 b6 28. Qb5 f6 29. Qe2 Nxe3 30. Qxe3 Nc5 31. Bc4 Qg4 32. Be2 Qe6 33. Red1 Rf8 34. b4 Nb3 35. Ra3 Bc2 36. Re1 Rd8 37. h3 c5 38. bxa5 Nxa5 39. Qc1 Bb3 40. Ra1 Qd7 41. Bd1 ½ : ½ Yudasin – Kupreichik, International Tournament, Minsk 1982)
7. ... d6 8. Be3 Nd7 9. Ba4 Nb4 10. a3 Na6 11. Nc3 c6 12. Bc2 Nac5 13. b4 Ne6 14. Qd2 Nf6 15. Na4 axb4 16. axb4 b5 17. cxb5 cxb5 18. Nb6 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Bb7

20. Bb3!↑ d5 21. Ra7 dxe4 22. Nxe5 Qc7

23. Nxf7! Kxf7 24. Qa2!? (24. dxe4! Rd8 25. Nd5!)
24. ... Qc6? (24. ... Rd8! 25. Bxe6+ Kf8)

25. Rxb7! Qxb7 26. Bxe6+ Ke8 (26. ... Kg6 27. g4!+−)
27. dxe4 Qxe4 28. Nd5! Bd8 (28. ... Nxd5 29. Qa8+ Bd8 30. Qc6+ Ke7 31. Bg5++−)
29. h3! Rf7 30. Qa6 Nxd5 31. Qc6+ Kf8 32. Qd6+ Ke8 33. Bxd5 Qe7 34. Qc6+ 1 : 0.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) could not resist the attack which Abdusattorov carried out with brilliance and boldness. Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit.

A Hard Nut To Crack

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Parham Maghsoodloo
86th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 24, 2024
Queen’s Gambit Declined D44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. Nxb5. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) is not in the mood for what she may consider superstition; 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxb5 Nb6 8. Be2 Nc6 9. 0-0 Be7 10. Be3 0-0 11. Nc3 Rb8 12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 Nb4 15. Ne4 h6 16. Rxa7 N6d5 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Ra1 Ndb4 19. Be3 Nd5 20. Bc1 Ra8 with a dynamically balanced game, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié), Women’s World Chess Championship 2023, 上海 (Shànghǎi) 2023, match game 4.
6. ... Nxe4 7. Qa4 c6 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 10. Bxc4 Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. 0-0 Qc7

13. Rd1!? A “mysterious” Rook move! White usually prefers to put the Rook on the open e-file.
13. ... 0-0 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 16. Be3 Rfd8 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc5 Nxc5 19. Qe2 f6 20. Nd4 e5 21. Nf5 Ne6 22. Qg4 Kh8 23. h3 g6 24. Ne3 Nd4 25. Nd5 Qg7 26. Qe4 Rac8 27. Rac1 f5 28. Qd3 Ne6 29. Qa3 e4 30. Ne7 Ra8 31. Rxd8+ Rxd8

32. Rb1! Not yet 32. Qxa7 because of 32. ... Re8 33. Nc6 Qxa7 34. Nxa7 Ra8 recovering the Pawn with equality.
32. ... Nf4 33. Qxa7 Qd4. Black estimates, or hopes, that without the Queens, he might be able to hold the ending despite his Pawn minus.
34. Qxd4+ Rxd4 35. Rb8+ Kg7 36. Rb7 Kf8 37. c5 Rc4 38. c6 Ne6 39. g3 Nd8 40. Rc7 Rc1+ 41. Kg2 Rc2 42. Kf1 Ke8. Obviously Black cannot play 42. ... Rxa2? due to 43. Nd5! winning material.
43. a4 Ne6 44. Rb7 Kd8 45. Rd7+ Ke8 46. Ng8 Rxc6 47. Nf6+ Kf8 48. Nxh7+ Ke8 49. Nf6+ Kf8 50. Rd1 Ra6 51. Nd7+ Ke7 52. Ne5 Kf6 53. Nd7+ Ke7 54. Ne5 Kf6 ½ : ½.