Game 4 of the FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2025 began with perfectly balanced scores.
The challenger, Tan Zhongyi, stunned the world in Game 2 by taking a full point by defeating the defending champion, Ju Wenjun.
However, the heart of a champion would prevail in the next game as Ju Wenjun struck back to level the scores and show the world that she is a fighting champion.
With the scores being even, Game 4 was all to fight for. Both players came into the game looking to get the better of their adversary. Let’s see how the game went.
Day 4
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an age-old proverb, and Tan Zhongyi stayed true to it as she again opened with the 1. c4, the English Opening, which earned her a lot of success in Game 2.
Ju Wenjun replied with 1…e6, and the game transposed into the Agincourt Defense of the English Opening after Tan played 2. Nc3.
Both sides then moved to develop their pieces to optimal squares, with Tan preferring to fianchetto her light-squared bishop on the h1 to a8 diagonal in an attempt to control it.
Castling occurred on both sides. Tan Zhongyi made her intentions known by striking in the center with 9. d4. Some exchanges happened, and we moved into the middlegame proper.
The middlegame was tightly contested, and both sides did their best to gain an advantage. The endgame, however, was a little spiced up, as Ju Wenjun sacrificed her rook for a passed pawn.
This move was a well-known tactic, however, as Ju Wenjun also had a passed pawn near promotion, and Tan Zhongyi had no choice but to give back the rook, and the game ended in a draw by insufficient material.
Day 4 results: Ju Wenjun (½) Tan Zhongyi (½)
Day 5
Following the draw in Game 4, the players resumed hostilities in Game 5 of the Women’s World Chess Championship 2025.
With the game perfectly balanced, both players looked to take a full point from this game. Let’s see how the action unfolded.
Ju Wenjun opened the game with 1. e4, and Tan Zhongyi made the Sicilian Defense her weapon of choice with 1…c6. The Sicilian was also the opening choice from Game 1.
However, in this game, Tan switched things up a bit and went for the Kan Variation of the Sicilian with 4…a6.
The game then moved to the middle game. In the middle game, Tan Zhongyi made a grave error that would eventually cost her the game.
Tan looked to expand on the queenside with 11…b5 and then …b6. However, this left her with a terribly-placed dark-squared bishop on a7.
Ju Wenjun would take advantage of this mistake and mount pressure on Tan’s position. In an attempt to create opportunities for herself, Tan traded two minor pieces for a rook and pawn, creating an imbalance in the position.
Despite Tan’s efforts, Ju Wenjun navigated the position without any complications. By move 59, it was clear that White was winning outright, so Tan had to resign from the game.
Day 5 results: Ju Wenjun (1) Tan Zhongyi (0)
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