Tan Zhongyi

Zhongyi Tan of China, the 2024 Cairns Cup Winner, is one of two former Women’s World Chess Champions competing this year (Alexandra Kosteniuk is the other).  Tan wore the crown in 2017-2018 before losing her title to countrywoman Ju Wenjun 5 ½ – 4 ½. She lost another title match to Ju Wenjun in 2025 after winning the Women’s Candidates the previous year.

Tan started playing at the age of six and made rapid progress, winning the World Youth Under 10 Girls Championship in 2000 and 2001 and the World Youth Under 12 Girls Championship in 2002. She became a Women Grandmaster in 2009 and by 2016 was among the top ten female players in the world, a position she has held the past decade.

A former Women’s World Rapid Champion (2022), Tan played an important role in helping China win team gold in the 2018 Women’s Chess Olympiad. 

Zhongyi Tan is currently rated the ninth woman in the world.