Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun defeated Challenger Tan Zhongyi with the black pieces to close out the first half of the match with a crucial win. This result marks her third victory in the last four games, giving her a 4–2 lead as the match shifts to Tan’s home city of Chongqing.
When asked yesterday whether the result of today’s game would carry any particular significance, both players emphasized that each game holds equal importance and would be approached accordingly. Yet, considering that it was the final encounter before the halfway mark and two upcoming rest days, it’s fair to conclude that, objectively, this one did matter.
The first ceremonial moves in Game 6 were performed by Zhang Yi, Director of Youth Sports and Education Dept., Shanghai Administration of Sports and Victor Bologan, FIDE Management Board Executive Director.
For Tan Zhongyi, the break offers a much-needed reset. She now returns to Chongqing with the weight of back-to-back losses. Whether playing on home soil will help revive her confidence remains to be seen.
“It will be tough, but I’m a professional player and I know how to deal with pressure,” the challenger said when asked about how she feels about her two point deficit.
With 4 points on the scoreboard, Ju Wenjun needs only 2.5 points from the remaining six games to retain her title – reaching 6.5 before her opponent does. The match resumes with Game 7 on April 13th at 15:00 local time.
Follow FIDE’s social media channels for updates, tune into YouTube for live commentary and coverage, and visit the official match website for more information.
Written by Charlize van Zyl
Photos: Anna Shtourman
Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/
See analysis in Goodbye, Shanghai! Ju extends lead before the break in Chongqing – International Chess Federation