FIDE Women’s World Championship Opening Ceremony 2025
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship officially began with a grand opening ceremony in Shanghai. The event took place at the JW Marriott Hotel, creating a prestigious setting for this major chess tournament.
Press Conference
At 16:00 local time, journalists gathered in the Grand Banquet Hall for the official press conference. The conference had two parts. First, officials and organizers spoke. Then, the players took the stage.
Grandmaster Ni Hua moderated the first half. The panel included top officials from FIDE and China’s sports administration. Translation between Mandarin and English was provided.
Xu Yuhua shared match details, and Victor Bologan expressed FIDE’s gratitude, calling the event a “Celebration of Chess and China”. Then, the players—Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi—arrived. They answered questions with smiles, discussing their excitement for the match.
The Opening Ceremony
After the press conference, guests moved to the other side of the hall for the opening ceremony. The room was elegantly decorated, matching the importance of the occasion.
The ceremony started with a promotional video showcasing the excitement of the championship. Then, the national anthem of China and the FIDE anthem played. Xu Bin, Director General of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, welcomed everyone. He emphasized how this match would reignite Shanghai’s passion for chess.
He Fengxiang, President of China Qi-yuan, spoke about China’s strong chess history. He mentioned the country’s first women’s world champion, Xie Jun, in 1991, and Ding Liren’s 2023 world championship victory.
Victor Bologan read a letter from FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. The letter highlighted China’s success in chess and its role in promoting the game worldwide.
Drawing of Lots
A key moment of the evening was the drawing of lots. Two bouquets were placed in front of the players, each holding a silk bag with a chess piece inside. Ju Wenjun picked a bouquet and found a white queen inside, meaning she will play with the white pieces in the first game.
The evening ended with a symbolic moment. He Fengxiang, Xu Bin, Victor Bologan, Xie Jun, Song Hui, and Du Xueyong pressed their hands on the stage screen, officially launching the championship. Afterward, guests enjoyed a banquet featuring Chinese delicacies.
The Match Begins
The first game starts on April 3, 2025, at 15:00 local time. Follow FIDE’s social media and YouTube channel for live coverage. Visit the official match website for updates.
Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/
About the Match
The championship follows a 12-game format. The first player to reach 6.5 points wins. Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game. Additionally, players receive a 30-second increment per move from the start.
If the match ends in a 6-6 tie, a tiebreak with rapid and blitz games will ultimately decide the champion.
Photos: Anna Shtourman, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
