Exclusive Interview: Ju Wenjun Discusses Her Success Across All Chess Formats

For the past half a decade, Ju Wenjun has been the undisputed leader in women’s chess. Since the hiatus of Hou Yifan, Ju Wenjun has remained at the top, rarely active on social media and seldom giving interviews. But this month, we were lucky enough to catch up with the reigning World Champion. We discussed her victory at the World Blitz Championship and her upcoming title defense in April, as well as what makes Chinese women so successful in chess and what hobbies she enjoys outside of the game. Let’s dive into this exclusive interview with the reigning Women’s World Champion in both Classical and Blitz Chess.

Winning Medals in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships: "All Three Titles Are Now in My Resume"

Few chess players can boast top accomplishments across all formats, but China’s reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun is certainly among them. Having won her Classical World Championship title in 2018, she has successfully defended it three times. She was also a two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion before claiming the World Blitz title in December 2024. At the latest Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Championships, held in the heart of New York's Wall Street, Ju Wenjun won silver in Rapid and her first Gold in Blitz.

"I prepared well for the World Rapid and Blitz, and I was particularly hopeful about doing well in Blitz because I’d never won the World Blitz Championship before," Ju Wenjun reflected on her expectations prior to the tournament. "I arrived in New York a couple of days early to avoid jet lag. It was a very tense competition, but I’m happy with my performance."

Photo by Michal Walusza / FIDE

As the reigning Women’s World Champion and the leading female player, Ju Wenjun automatically enters every women’s tournament as the favorite. But the World Rapid and Blitz tournaments are notoriously tough for favorites, with young, quick-minded challengers often stealing the spotlight. This year, the event was held for the first time in New York City, adding to the intensity of the competition with a packed venue of spectators. But Ju Wenjun enjoyed the experience.

"It was my first time playing in New York, and I really enjoyed it. The venue in Wall Street was beautiful, and a lot of people came to watch the games. It felt like we were on stage, under the spotlight, and the atmosphere was very lively and exciting."

Photo by Michal Walusza / FIDE

After claiming silver in the World Rapid Championship behind India’s Humpy Koneru, Ju Wenjun had one rest day before focusing on her ultimate goal — winning the World Blitz Championship. The format had changed this time, with the first day consisting of 11 rounds to decide the 8 players who would qualify for the knockout stage. Ju Wenjun, who admitted to enjoying the new format, finished the event on top, qualifying for the knockout stage.

"I liked the new knockout format," she said. "It’s more exciting and fun to watch. Both stages were equally challenging, but that makes it even more exciting."

She went on to defeat reigning Blitz Champion Valentina Gunina in the quarterfinals and Vaishali Rameshbabu in the semifinals, ultimately facing her compatriot and friend, Lei Tingjie, in the final. After five consecutive draws, Ju Wenjun secured the first victory in their match, claiming her first-ever Women’s World Blitz Championship title.

Photo by Michal Walusza / FIDE

"Winning the Women’s World Blitz Championship completes my career," she reflected. "Now, I’ve won the Classical, the Rapid, and the Blitz Championships — all three titles are now on my resume."

Despite her dominance in all three time controls, Ju Wenjun still has a preference for Classical chess, where more time allows her to devise intricate strategies and enjoy the game more:

"I like Classical chess the most, then Rapid, and then Blitz. Each format has its own appeal. In Rapid and Blitz, there’s less time, so you often end up in more chaotic positions. But I prefer Classical because it gives me time to think ahead, plan my moves, and not just play move by move. In Rapid and Blitz, I often play based on instinct, whereas in classical chess, I can think about the position more deeply."

World Classical Chess Championship Match is Upcoming: Ju Wenjun vs Tan Zhongyi

The Women’s World Championship match is just around the corner, scheduled to begin on April 1st, 2025. Ju Wenjun will defend her title in her favorite format — Classical chess — against her fellow Chinese player, Tan Zhongyi. Tan, a former world champion, was dethroned by Ju Wenjun in 2018 but has since shown remarkable form, earning her a chance to challenge again for the title.

Photo by Gu Xiaobing

"The difference is that both of us have become stronger since 2018," Ju Wenjun explained. "Tan Zhongyi has been playing very well recently, and I’m also working on improving my game. We’ve known each other since we were kids, so it will be a very interesting match. It won’t be easy, but I’m looking forward to it."

Although Ju Wenjun has achieved nearly every title in women’s chess, she remains fiercely motivated by the prospect of making history. Currently, the record for the most Women’s World Championship titles is held by Vera Menchik, with an impressive eight wins, while Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze follow closely with five titles each. If Ju Wenjun successfully defends her title in 2025, she will tie for second place and still have the possibility of surpassing these records in the years to come.

"My main goal right now is to defend my title in the World Championship match," she said. "If I can do that, I’ll become a five-time Women’s World Champion, and that really motivates me."

The 2025 match will be Ju Wenjun’s fourth title defense. After winning the title in 2018, she first defended it in the same year through a 64-player knockout tournament, followed by successful defenses against Aleksandra Goryachkina in 2020 and Lei Tingjie in 2023. A victory in 2025 will place her alongside the legendary champions like Gaprindashvili and Chiburdanidze, further cementing Ju Wenjun's status as one of the greatest female players in chess history.

Why Chinese Female Players Are So Dominant in Chess

Currently, the top four female players in the world by FIDE rating are all from China: Hou Yifan (2633), Ju Wenjun (2561), Tan Zhongyi (2561), and Lei Tingjie (2552). While Hou Yifan has stepped back from active competition, China’s dominance in women’s chess remains undeniable.

Reflecting on what contributes to such a high concentration of talent, Ju Wenjun points to the strong environment for chess in China, where young players can learn from seasoned professionals and have access to numerous internal tournaments.

"I think we have strong traditions in China, where we can learn from great former champions," Ju Wenjun said. "In China, male and female chess players often train together, especially before team events, and it’s very helpful. We can learn from each other, especially from older, stronger players. Sometimes we also play training games and grow stronger. Plus, there are many tournaments held in China, which play a significant role in strengthening women’s chess."

But with so many top players, Chinese chess players often face each other in high-stakes tournaments, such as the Women’s World Championship. Despite their friendship and long history together, Ju Wenjun doesn’t find it emotionally challenging to compete against fellow Chinese players.

Photo by Lennart Ootes / FIDE

"When we play, we take the game very seriously, and we focus 100% on the game," she said. "But when we’re off the board, we can relax and talk like friends." What’s more challenging is how well they know each other’s playstyles and how well-prepared both sides are when they face off.

The upcoming all-Chinese match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi is sure to be exciting!

Advice to Young Female Chess Players from the World Champion

Ju Wenjun believes the strength of female players has been steadily growing. "Women’s chess has been improving in recent years, and I can see that all of us are becoming stronger," she noted. We asked her for advice on how young female players can improve and what mindset they should cultivate.

"When you are young, you need to be very focused on chess. You should train regularly and also play in as many tournaments as possible. Confidence is important too—if you feel good about your current form, just fight to the end and never give up. As for training, the most important factor is consistency."

And if you’re wondering about the Chinese world champion’s personal interests outside of chess, she enjoys playing ping pong and listening to classical music—activities that might just help her unwind and refuel for her next big match.

Check out more intrerviews by Chessify:

From Pain to Victory: Volodar Murzin’s Unforgettable Journey to World Champion

Grzegorz Gajewski on Coaching Gukesh D to Become the Youngest Ever World Chess Champion

10 Hours a Day: How Aleksandar Indjic Became European Chess Champion