Top 5 Women’s Chess Tournaments of 2025
Unlike most sports, which separate men and women into entirely different competitive worlds, chess has two types of events — open and women’s tournaments. In open tournaments, anyone can participate, whereas women’s tournaments are designed to provide women with a stage to showcase their talent and decide the world champion. In 2025, the women’s chess calendar has been marked by intense battles and historic wins.
Here’s a look at the five biggest tournaments shaping the year — even if you are someone who has never studied a chessboard.
Women’s World Chess Championship
The Women’s World Chess Championship is the most important event, crowning the world champion. In April 2025, China’s Ju Wenjun successfully defended her title for a fifth time, beating challenger Tan Zhongyi 6½–2½. The 12-game showdown was split between Shanghai and Chongqing, the players’ home cities, adding a touch of hometown rivalry to an already tense battle.
Women’s Candidates Tournament
If the World Championship is the final, the Women’s Candidates Tournament is the playoff leading up to it. This eight-player event decides who will challenge the reigning world champion. Tan Zhongyi won the 2024 edition in Toronto, earning her chance to face Ju Wenjun this year.
The next Candidates will be held in April 2026, and five players have already booked their seats: India’s Humpy Koneru and Divya Deshmukh, China’s Tan Zhongyi and Zhu Jiner, and Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina. Three spots are still up for grabs.
FIDE Women’s World Cup
The Women’s World Cup is a knockout marathon where losing even one match means elimination. The 2025 edition in Batumi, Georgia, saw a breakout performance from 19-year-old Indian Divya Deshmukh, who defeated veteran Humpy Koneru in the final. Tan Zhongyi finished third. All three not only earned medals but also qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Women’s Grand Prix
The Women’s Grand Prix is a global chess circuit with six tournaments spread over two years, where points determine qualification for the Candidates. The 2024–2025 series took players from Europe to Asia and back. China’s Zhu Jiner topped the overall standings, with Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina in second — both securing Candidates spots. Anna Muzychuk won the final leg but narrowly missed qualification, finishing third overall.
Women’s Grand Swiss
Held every two years, the Women’s Grand Swiss is famous for its difficulty. The 2025 edition will be played in September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, featuring 56 of the world’s strongest women players in an 11-round Swiss-system format. The top two finishers will claim the final tickets to the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
A Milestone Year for Women’s Chess
From Ju Wenjun’s confident title defense to Divya Deshmukh’s breakout win and Zhu Jiner’s Grand Prix triumph, 2025 has been a milestone year for women’s chess. Established champions have held their ground, rising talents have made their mark, and fans have enjoyed world-class competition.
With the Grand Swiss and the 2026 Candidates still ahead, there’s plenty more chess — and stories — yet to come.
If you wish to know more news about Women’s Tennis, click here.
Yash Desai is a renowned journalist with over 10+ years of experience covering sports around the world. He began his career as a News Reporter in Delhi, India, and got an opportunity to cover several World events, including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Games. He often felt that women’s sports are sidelined and given step-motherly treatment by the mainstream media. To bridge this gap and to build an equal playing field, Yash co-founded FemaleInSports and is currently working as a Lead Editor here.
