Tan Zhongyi

Biography (1991)

A young prodigy and one of the best players of her generation, Tan Zhongyi was born in Chongqing in 1991. She showed early promise by winning numerous youth events, including the World Youth U10 Girls Chess Championship in 2000 and 2001, and the World Youth U12 Girls Chess Championship the very next year. Already in her early twenties, Tan demonstrated great consistency in her results, winning at least one major event per year and becoming a key contender for the women's chess crown.In 2017, Tan was crowned Women's World Champion after winning the knockout event held in Teheran. She faced Anna Muzychuk in the final and defeated her on a tiebreak. This victory also earned Tan the Grandmaster title.The following year, Tan lost her crown in a world championship match against challenger Ju Wenjun, held in Shanghai and Chongqing. However, she did not stop her pursuit of the title. In 2023, Tan advanced to the FIDE Women's Candidates final but lost to her compatriot Lei Tingjie. Undeterred, Tan Zhongyi won the Women's Candidates in Toronto in 2024, earning the right to challenge women's world champion Ju Wenjun once again.

Notable game

This game was played at the Women's World Team Championship in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2017

Play like a champion!

Black to move.

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Want chess advice?

# 1 / 2

There are two types of battles in chess: one is purely chess, and the other is psychological.

I like to keep it solid and wait for my chances—chess is about patience.

On Zhongyi

Tan Zhongyi’s strongest trait is her steely nervous system.

What stands out to me is her 'tournament management' - she keeps herself in the game, is great at saving bad positions, and when she gets a clear chance to win, she goes for it.

She is a true fighter.