Ju Wenjun Takes the Lead in Game 5 of Women’s World Championship

For the first time in the match, reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun has taken the lead.
She won Game 5 with confidence and control.

Her opponent, Tan Zhongyi, playing with the Black pieces, ran into early trouble in the opening.
Ju quickly took the advantage and never let it go.

Unlike the long 81-move draw in Game 4, today’s battle was sharp and decisive.
This time, Ju made the most of her chances and gave Tan no room to fight back.

A Familiar Battle

This championship match brings a strong sense of déjà vu.
Once again, Ju and Tan are battling for the world title.
Even the opening choices are familiar.
In every game where Ju has played White, Tan has responded with the Sicilian Defense.

In Game 5, Tan chose the Kan Variation, a twist that even got a reaction from GM Anish Giri on X (formerly Twitter).

A Surprising Move

Tan blitzed out her opening moves confidently.
But Ju surprised her with an early 10.c5—a move not seen in this position before.
This knocked Tan out of her preparation and forced her to think at the board.

Tan took a 10-minute pause—her first major think of the match.
In the post-game press conference, she admitted she wasn’t prepared for that line.
Her response led to misplaced pieces and slow development.

Ju’s position became more comfortable, and though she briefly lost part of her edge, she stayed ahead.

Key Moment in the Game

One big moment came on move 15.

Ju could have played 15.Qd4, a powerful in-between move.
It would have increased pressure on Black’s king and central squares.

Instead, she played the safer 15.bxc3, which still held an advantage.
Later, she chose 16.Qe2 over Qd4 again, giving up some momentum.
But Tan’s response—17…f5?—was a mistake.
It weakened her king and gave Ju full control again.

The Final Push

Tan looked calm but struggled on the board.
Her pieces lacked coordination, and Ju grabbed a second pawn.
Now up two pawns, Ju had the better position, better pieces, and an outside passed pawn.

Tan tried to fight back by trading two minor pieces for a rook and a pawn.
She also tried to attack Ju’s back rank, hoping for counterplay.
But Ju stayed calm and accurate in defense.

Eventually, Tan ran out of ideas.
After 59 moves, she resigned.

A Major Turning Point

This win gives Ju Wenjun a 3-2 lead in the match.
It’s her first lead and a major confidence boost—especially with home support in Shanghai.
One more game will be played here before the match moves to Chongqing.
Game 6 promises to be one of the most critical of the match.

Game 5 Fact Sheet – FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2025

• White: Ju Wenjun

• Black: Tan Zhongyi

• Result: 1-0

• Opening: Sicilian Defence – Kan Variation

• Game Length: 59 moves

• Match Score: 3-2 (Ju leads)

About the Match

The match is played over 12 games.
The first player to reach 6.5 points becomes the Women’s World Chess Champion.

Time Control:

• 90 minutes for the first 40 moves

• 30 minutes added after that

• 30-second increment from move 1

If the match ends 6-6, a tiebreak with rapid and blitz games will decide the champion.

Stay updated on FIDE’s social media, watch live commentary on YouTube, and visit the official website for more.

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Photos: Anna Shtourman, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS

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