FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2025: Ju Wenjun vs Tan Zhongyi in all-China final – all you need to know

The FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 will see two of the best players compete against each other in a 12-game affair to decide the next world champion. It will also be an all-Chinese affair with world No.2 Ju Wenjun attempting to defend her title against the challenger and world No.3 Tan Zhongyi.

With two Chinese stars taking part in another FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship match, China is set to continue its dominance in women’s chess. China has produced the highest number of world champions in women’s chess – six.

The Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 is also the third time Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi are facing off in the competition which decides the world champion. Tan Zhongyi beat Ju Wenjun before winning the Women’s World Chess Championship 2017 which was played in a knockout tournament while Ju Wenjun won against Tan Zhongyi in the Women’s World Chess Championship 2018.

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Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 format

The Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 will be played in a 12-game format. The first player to reach 6.5 points will be declared the world champion.  Defending champion Ju Wenjun will begin the match with the white pieces.

Time control

Each player will have 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. A 30-second increment per move will be applied from the very first move.

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 venue

The Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 will take place across two Chinese cities—the first six games in Shanghai, Ju Wenjun’s hometown, before shifting to Chongqing, the home city of challenger Tan Zhongyi.

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 schedule

Tournament starts in Shanghai

3 April: Game 1

4 April: Game 2

6 April: Game 3

7 April: Game 4

9 April: Game 5

10 April: Game 6

Tournament moves to Chongqing

13 April: Game 7

14 April: Game 8

16 April: Game 9

17 April: Game 10

19 April: Game 11

20 April: Game 12

21 April: Tie-break (if needed)/Closing ceremony

22 April: Closing Ceremony (if tie-break is needed)