Profile of a Champion: Xie Jun, a Pioneer for Women’s Chess in China

Xie Jun (谢军 in pinyin: Xiè Jūn) (born October 30, 1970) is a chess player from China. She was the eighth and tenth women’s world chess champion, first from 1991 to 1996, and again in 1999 until 2001, and is only the second woman to hold the title twice.

Xie Jun was born in Beijing, and became junior Xiangqi (Chinese chess) champion of the city at the age of six.

In 1991, Xie Jun won the women’s world championship for the first time, winning a match against Maya Chiburdanidze, who had held the title since 1978, by a score of 8.5 – 6.5.

In 1993 she successfully defended her title against Nana Ioseliani (winning their match 8.5 – 2.5).

She lost her title in 1996 but in 1999 she won the title back, defeating Alisa Galliamova 8.5 – 6.5.

In 2000, FIDE changed the format of the world championship to a knock-out system, and Xie won the title again, beating fellow Chinese player Qin Kanying 2.5 – 1.5 in the final. (Wikipedia)

Xie Jun is not only a great Champion, she is a wonderful role model for millions of women players in China and Asia. She was also the first woman from China to win World Championships and Olympiad Gold medals.

Even though she is still the #1 rated woman player in China and in the top 3 in the world today, she is sacrificing her own career to help the next generation of young and talented Chinese girls. The future of Women’s Chess in China is very bright thanks to Xie Jun.