Chess world champion visits former school
Ju Wenjun plays a chess simul with Jiangning School students on Children's Day.
Chess grandmaster and current women’s world chess champion Ju Wenjun paid a visit to Jiangning School for a chess simul with students on Children’s Day.
The 27-year-old Shanghai native beat compatriot Tan Zhongyi in the FIDE Women’s World Championship Match earlier this month to become Shanghai’s first and China’s sixth female world champion.
As a graduate of the primary school where her interest towards chess was cultivated, Ju communicated with students and her former teachers before playing a chess simul with selected students.
“Attack is the best defense,” Ju told the children when she was asked about her winning secrets. “Try to be aggressive and create a challenge for your opponents.”
According to Jiangning School headmaster Wu Qinglin, the school has a tradition of chess. Students are required to learn the game during their first year at school. Those with interest and talent will be selected for further training.
“Children have a wide choice of hobbies nowadays, but chess remains popular among our students because logical thinking ability can be trained,” Wu told Shanghai Daily.
Ju Wenjun gifts a signed chess board to Jiangning School headmaster Wu Qinglin.
