The 2020 Women’s World Chess Championship between challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina and world champion Ju Wenjun begins in Shanghai, China on January 4, 2020.
The Challenger
Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina
Born September 28, 1998
21 years old
Rated 2578
The Reigning Champion
China’s Ju Wenjun
Born January 31, 1991
28 years old
Rated 2584
What?
Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina and China’s Ju Wenjun compete in a 12-game match with “Classical Chess” time controls, followed by a Tiebreak system, if necessary.
Where?
The first 6 games take place in Shanghai, China. The second 6 games along with possible Tiebreaks and the Closing Ceremony take place in Vladivostok, Russia.
When?
The Challenger!
In May 2019, Aleksandra was only 20 years old at the time and the youngest and lowest-seeded of the world’s Top 8 women chess players competing. She won the Candidates Tournament and earned the opportunity to challenge China’s Ju Wenjun for the upcoming 2020 Women’s World Chess Championship!
She is a Grandmaster and two-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion. She also twice won the Girls Under-20 World Chess Championship.
She is on the rise and may well be the next Women’s World Chess Champion!