Women's World Champion #9 2001–2004 China

Zhu Chen

Won the title in a knockout tournament, then largely stepped back from top competition for a diplomatic career.

Photo: Vinod Divakaran (Doha Stadium Plus Qatar) · CC BY 2.0

Biography

Born in 1976, Zhu Chen won the 2001 knockout Women's World Championship, becoming the third consecutive Chinese champion in the title's modern era.

She later married a Qatari chess official and went on to represent Qatar internationally, pursuing a career with the Qatari diplomatic service alongside occasional competitive chess.

Playing Style

A well-prepared, technically sound knockout-format competitor.

Notable Games

2001 Women's World Championship Final

Moscow · 2001

Her win over Alisa Galliamova to claim the title.

Fun Facts

She is one of the few Women's World Champions to represent two different countries (China, then Qatar) at an elite level across her career.