In the 12th and final game of the women’s world championship, a pivotal role was played by a modest knight retreat from China’s defending champion Ju Wenjun. Her immediate purpose was to restrain a dangerous passed pawn. But that simple measure set in motion a deeper plan, which challenger Lei Tingjie was unable to prevent. Ju used both her knights to establish an unshakeable central blockade, and Lei’s immobile pawns were destroyed a few moves later.
The match was a triumph of tenacity for Ju, who was outplayed by her compatriot in exemplary style in the fifth game, and trailed at the halfway point. Thereafter, play moved from Shanghai to Chongqing, where Ju seemed to gain in confidence, equalling the score in game 8. She made a particularly bold opening choice in the final game (see puzzle no. 762) although Lei had a full share of the chances until later in the middlegame.
Ju’s 6.5-5.5 victory extends an imposing series of world championship successes. She won the title by beating Tan Zhongyi in 2018, and defended it by winning a 64 player knockout later that year. In 2020, she saw off a challenge from Alexandra Goryachkina from Russia. China’s highest-rated female player, Hou Yifan, has been almost entirely inactive since 2018.
Ju Wenjun-Lei Tingjie
FIDE Women’s World Championship, Game 12
1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 c5 4 dxc5 e6 5 b4 a5 6 c3 axb4 7 cxb4 b6 8 Bb5+ Bd7 9 Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10 a4 bxc5 11 b5 This unusual opening has recently become popular in grandmaster play. The battle between White’s powerful queenside pawns and Black’s superior central presence is complex but balanced. Qc7 12 Bb2 Bd6 13 O-O O-O 14 Nbd2 Rfc8 15 Qc2 c4 16 Bc3 Nc5 17 a5 Nb3 18 Bxf6 18 Ra2 was worth considering, since 18…Nxa5 walks into a pin with 19 Rfa1.
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