Last month, the 2025 Women’s World Chess Championship captivated the global chess community. China’s Ju Wenjun, the reigning world champion, faced off against her longtime rival Tan Zhongyi in a much-anticipated rematch. After a hard-fought nine-game battle, Ju Wenjun successfully defended her title, claiming her fifth Women’s World Chess Championship. A key highlight for enthusiasts: the Sicilian Defense – one of the most popular and formidable openings – played a central role in this high-stakes clash. This sporting success offers valuable strategic lessons for beginner and intermediate players and illustrates the importance of modern tools (online platforms, tactical training, video courses, etc.) for chess improvement.

The two champions face off at the 2025 Women’s World Chess Championship in Shanghai. The event, broadcast via chess live streaming, thrilled fans who could follow the games live online.

A Clash of Titans: Ju Wenjun vs Tan Zhongyi

The match brought together two top female chess players. Ju Wenjun, 34, is an experienced champion reigning over women’s chess since 2018. Her opponent, Tan Zhongyi, 33, is a former world champion (2017) attempting to reclaim the title. This matchup was a clash of titans, rich in sporting and psychological tension. The two know each other well – their previous world championship match in 2018 saw Ju dethrone Tan. In 2025, the roles were reversed: Ju held the crown, and Tan returned as a determined challenger.

Held in China (Shanghai and Chongqing) in early April 2025, the match was scheduled for up to 12 games at classical time control (90 minutes + 30 seconds per move). Each win scored 1 point, a draw 0.5 points. The first to reach 6.5 points would be crowned champion. After a series of intense games, Ju Wenjun led the score, forcing Tan Zhongyi to create a miracle in the final games to reverse the tide.

The Sicilian Defense: Tan Zhongyi’s Tactical Weapon

From the first game, Tan Zhongyi made her intentions clear with an ambitious opening choice. Playing Black, she steered the game into the Sicilian Defense. The Sicilian (beginning with 1.e4 c5) is known for generating asymmetrical, tactically rich positions – ideal when playing for a win as Black. This choice proved wise: Tan neutralized Ju’s attempts and comfortably secured equality. After 39 balanced moves, the game ended in a logical draw. In short, Tan Zhongyi showed she was well-prepared and ready to go toe-to-toe with the champion using her Sicilian repertoire.

Throughout the match, the Sicilian remained central to Tan’s strategy to fight for victory. In the ninth and final game, needing a win with Black to stay in the match, Tan once again opted for a different Sicilian variation. This time it was the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, chosen to unbalance the position right from the opening. However, Ju Wenjun was ready for it: she played with accuracy and solidity, leaving Tan no decisive chances. Ultimately, despite her efforts, Tan “never really stood a chance in this game,” which ended in a draw. That draw sealed the final score and secured Ju Wenjun’s victory.

Why the Sicilian? For beginner and intermediate players, it’s worth understanding why this opening was a key weapon in a world championship match. The Sicilian is an aggressive defense that offers many strategic options against 1.e4, the most common first move for White. By choosing the Sicilian, Tan avoided symmetrical setups and created dynamic imbalances – exactly what she needed to play for a win rather than settle for a draw. Moreover, the Sicilian includes a broad range of variations (Najdorf, Dragon, Rossolimo, etc.), making it a powerful tool for catching opponents off-guard. However, this theoretical richness requires deep preparation to avoid being outplayed – a challenge Tan and her chess coach undoubtedly met through extensive study.

High-Level Chess Preparation and Strategy

At the elite level, chess games are often decided as much before players sit at the board as during actual play. Both champions spent weeks preparing with their trainers and chess engines, analyzing each other’s preferences and weaknesses. Each player crafted a game plan including surprise openings and backup lines designed to unsettle the opponent.

A revealing example comes from game one: after entering the Rossolimo variation of the Sicilian, Ju Wenjun deliberately deviated from mainstream theory as early as move 5 to avoid predictable lines. This clever decision immediately tested Tan’s preparation. The challenger continued to play quickly for several moves – proof she was still in her memorized repertoire – but began to hesitate after Ju’s 9th move. That pause showed Tan had entered unfamiliar territory, relying on calculation instead of preparation. At this level, where most opening moves are anticipated using engines, pushing your opponent into uncharted territory so early is a small strategic triumph. Ju Wenjun demonstrated her deep chess strategy knowledge and adaptability.

A Championship Followed Live Worldwide

Beyond the sporting spectacle, this event was a global show followed in real time by thousands of fans. The International Chess Federation provided an official website, and live chess games were broadcast daily online starting at 9 a.m. (Paris time). Any chess lover could log in and play along with the champions, move by move, to experience the tension firsthand. Numerous websites and streaming channels covered the live commentary, with grandmaster insights on plans and tactics.

Following such games online is a goldmine for learning. Observing the world’s top chess players reveals the importance of every detail: piece placement, time management, and decision-making under pressure. Many spectators later replayed the games on online chess platforms, either for enjoyment or study. Free tools let you step through the moves, enable engine analysis to find mistakes or improvements, and even challenge the computer from any position.

Lessons for Chess Players

If you’re a chess player, what can you take away from this championship to improve your own game? Here are key insights inspired by this duel of champions:

• Build an adapted repertoire: Tan Zhongyi relied on the Sicilian to maximize her chances. Likewise, it’s wise to build your own opening repertoire based on your style.
• Study games and prepare: Ju and Tan’s deep prep shows that studying games – especially those using your favorite openings – can significantly boost understanding.
• Train tactics regularly: This championship featured many tactical moments like forks and pins. Daily tactical chess training builds board vision and sharpens calculation.
• Manage stress and time: Ju excelled at time control. Improving your time strategy can help in both blitz and classical formats.

In short, the 2025 Women’s World Championship reminds us that chess is creativity. With modern tools like online chess courses, game databases, and tactical trainers – available even on mobile – improving has never been more accessible. Platforms like Chessflare now offer a true virtual chess coach to guide you. The next rising champion could be you.