Chess Grand Prix Update: Zhu Jiner Steps In for Lei Tingjie

Grandmaster Lei Tingjie has unfortunately withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25 due to personal reasons. Following the regulations of the WGP, she will be substituted by Grandmaster Zhu Jiner. Zhu Jiner is now scheduled to participate in the FIDE WGP stages in Cyprus, India, and Austria.

Zhu Jiner achieved the Grandmaster title in 2023 and currently holds the position of China’s fifth-highest ranked female chess player. In 2016, she secured first place in the Girls’ U14 category at the World Youth Chess Championships held in Khanty-Mansiysk.

In 2017, she achieved third place at the Asian Zone 3.5 tournament, following Zhai Mo and Ni Shiqun, which qualified her for the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2018. In the same year, FIDE awarded her the title of Woman International Master (WIM). Furthermore, in 2018, she won a bronze medal at the Women’s China Rapid Chess Championship.

Zhu Jiner participated in the first three stages of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23. In the first stage in Astana, she finished third with a score of 6½ out of 11. In Munich, she tied for fifth place with 5½ out of 11, and in New Delhi, she shared first place with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Bibisara Assaubayeva, achieving a score of 6 out of 9. Her performance in New Delhi earned her the final Grandmaster norm, and in August 2023, she officially received the Grandmaster title, becoming the 41st woman in history to reach this prestigious level.

The fourth stage of the FIDE WGP 2024–25 is set to take place in Cyprus from March 14–25, where Zhu Jiner will take Lei Tingjie’s spot in the competition. The complete pairings can be found here.

FIDE Women

The three co-winners displaying their trophies at the New Delhi Grand Prix tournament – Bibisara Assaubayeva, Aleksandra Goryachkina and Zhu Jiner | Photo: Ismael Nieto

Zhu Jiner to Replace Lei Tingjie in Women’s Grand Prix Series

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