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. In case of 18…Nxd2 19 Qxd2 Ne4 20 Qb2 the pawns are getting troublesome, so 18…Qc5 19 b6 Rxa5 is a playable alternative, hoping to round up the b-pawn soon after. Nxa1 19 Bxa1 Qxa5 20 Qc3 Qxc3 21 Bxc3 Rcb8 22 Nd4 e5 It is hard to resist the chance to remove the b5 pawn, but this allows the Black pawn chain to be broken up. Better was 22…Bc5 23 Rb1 Ra3 24 Ne2 f6, with a tense fight ahead. 23 Nf5 Bf8 24 Bxe5 Rxb5 25 g4 g6 26 Nd4 Rb2 (see diagram) 27 Nb1 The key idea. 27 N2f3 was more natural, but after 27…Raa2 White has no clear plan, and the passed c-pawn must always be reckoned with. Bg7 Better was 27…Ra1 28 Nc3 Rxf1+ 29 Kxf1 Bg7 30 Bxg7 Kxg7 31 Nxd5 since the exchange of a pair of rooks significantly improves Black’s chances. 28 Bxg7 Kxg7 29 Nc3 Ra5 30 Rd1 Rb6 31 Nde2 A dream blockade for White, and the d5-pawn must fall. Rb3 A clever defence, hoping to achieve a trade of rooks, e.g. 32 Nxd5 Rd3! Instead, Ju takes her time to capture the pawn in more favourable circumstances. 32 Kg2 h6 33 Kf3 f6 34 Rc1 Kf7 35 Nf4 d4 36 exd4 g5 37 Ne2 f5 38 gxf5 Rxf5+ 39 Ke3 g4 40 Nf4 Rb8 41 d5 This pawn’s procession will slowly win the game. Rf6 42 Rc2 Ra8 43 Nb5 Rb6 44 Nd4 Ra3+ 45 Ke4 c3 46 Nfe2 Rb2 47 Kd3 Rb1 48 Nxc3 Rh1 49 f3 gxf3 50 Nxf3 Rf1 51 Nd4 Ke7 52 Kc4 Rf4 53 Rb2 Rh4 54 Rb7+ Kf6 55 Rb2 Ra8 56 Kc5 Rh3 57 Ncb5 Re3 58 d6 Ke5 59 Nc6+ Ke4 60 d7 Rd3 61 Nd6+ Kf4 62 Rb8 Black resigns