The women’s chess landscape is evolving rapidly, both on and off the 64 squares. Fuelled by increasing professionalization, better support—including provisions for players who are mothers—and dramatically rising prize funds, the competitive intensity is higher than ever. The pinnacle of this shift arrives at the end of the year: the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 in Doha, Qatar. With a total prize fund reaching a colossal €1 million, the women’s events alone command €300,000, setting the stage for a dramatic high-speed collision of talent.
This event is not merely a fast tournament; it is a critical measure of endurance, nerves, and raw calculation. While classical chess tests patience, Rapid and Blitz formats expose fundamental tactical ability under extreme pressure. Here is an analytical look at the ten highest-rated women entering Doha, each bringing a unique blend of championship experience and tactical genius.
The Dominance and the Determined Rivals
The leaderboard is anchored by players who have defined the modern era of women’s chess, demonstrating that mastery extends far beyond traditional time controls.
Ju Wenjun – The Unyielding Benchmark
As the top seed with a 2530 rapid rating, Ju Wenjun stands as the player against whom all others measure their ambition. Having successfully defended her Women`s World Championship title for the fifth time earlier in 2025, she has proven her dominance across all formats. Her victory in the 2024 Women’s World Blitz Championship confirmed that her calm, precise style translates seamlessly into the fastest time controls. Ju is the natural favourite, arriving in Doha not just as a champion, but as a complete chess phenomenon.
Tan Zhongyi – The Ever-Present Fighter
Former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi (2507) has maintained a decade-long rivalry with Ju, recently earning the right to challenge her by winning the 2024 Women’s Candidates Tournament. Tan is defined by a practical, relentless determination. She doesn`t need overwhelming positions to win; her ability to defend for hours and capitalize on the smallest slip-ups makes her incredibly dangerous in the time-scrambled chaos of rapid and blitz.
Aleksandra Goryachkina – The Positional Specialist
Rated 2505, Goryachkina is a powerhouse often competing in Open events, sharpening her skills against the best men. Her recent successes—including major rapid wins in Tata Steel Chess India and securing a Candidates spot through the Grand Prix series—underscore her consistency. Known for her superb positional understanding and cold, clinical endgame technique, Goryachkina is the definition of a player who prefers to let her moves speak for themselves, which is often the most eloquent form of competition.
The Queens of Speed and Tactics
Rapid and Blitz chess often requires a different skillset: instinct, aggressive opening preparation, and the willingness to take risks. These champions thrive in that environment.
Bibisara Assaubayeva – The Blitz Prodigy Turned GM
At just 2461, Bibisara is already a chess legend, holding two Women’s World Blitz titles and the Guinness World Record for the youngest ever women’s blitz world champion. Having recently secured her Grandmaster title and surpassed the 2500 classical barrier in 2025, she is no longer just a blitz specialist. Her approach is characterized by speed, a sharp opening repertoire, and aggressive instincts—a lethal combination when the clock is ticking down.
Kateryna Lagno – The Versatile Veteran
Lagno (2452) boasts an enviable record, holding the Women’s World Rapid title from 2014 and three Blitz crowns (2010, 2018, 2019). Her recent blitz tournament victory at Tata Steel Chess India 2024 proved her speed hasn`t faded. Lagno combines deep, theoretical opening preparation with an intuition for complex tactical positions, ensuring she remains a top threat even against younger rivals.
Alexandra Kosteniuk – The Attacking Master
Bringing immense experience as a former Women’s World Champion (2008–2010), Kosteniuk (2450) remains a highly active and dangerous competitor. She won the Women’s World Rapid Championship in 2021 and continues to shine in Grand Prix events. Kosteniuk thrives when she can seize the initiative, willingly diving into sharp lines where the ability to calculate under time pressure is paramount. She refuses to simplify, preferring instead to dictate the action.
The Resurgence and the New Wave
The field is rounded out by champions enjoying tremendous resurgence and young talents who have successfully stormed the qualification circuit.
Humpy Koneru – The Rapid Resurgence
Humpy Koneru (2448) enters Doha as the reigning Women’s World Rapid Champion, having clinched her second title in New York in 2024. Her strength lies in solid classical foundations, allowing her to rarely over-press and instead squeeze small advantages with confident technique. Her dramatic run to the 2025 Women’s World Cup final, securing her a spot in the next Candidates, highlights that her nerves are as steady as her strategy.
Harika Dronavalli – The Tiebreak Specialist
As one of India’s most experienced top players, Dronavalli (2435) recently led her team to victory at the 45th Chess Olympiad. Known for her tenacity in critical moments, she shared the lead in the 2024 World Rapid and excelled in the 2025 World Cup, often prevailing in punishing tiebreak matches against world-class opposition. Harika’s resilience is her primary weapon in rapid play.
Zhu Jiner – The Grand Prix Breakthrough
Zhu Jiner (2435) completes the top ten, but her rapid rating belies her overall momentum. She finished as the overall winner of the 2024–25 Women`s Grand Prix series, immediately securing her place as a major contender in the next Candidates cycle. Zhu combines deep opening study with a calm, practical style. While preferring control, her dramatic must-win comeback in the 2025 World Cup demonstrated that she possesses the clutch calculation required to succeed when the stakes are highest.
Doha: The Ultimate Test
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships in Doha will serve as a thrilling, fast-paced conclusion to the competitive year. Unlike classical tournaments, where preparation reigns supreme, rapid and blitz emphasize adaptation and intuition. For many of these top ten players, this competition is not just about securing a prestigious title and a massive paycheck; it`s about proving that the growing investment and increased visibility in women`s chess is producing the toughest, most well-rounded competitors the game has ever seen.
The narrative is set: the established benchmark, Ju Wenjun, faces a relentless wave of challengers—from the seasoned multiple-time speed champions to the hungry, tactically brilliant rising stars. In a format where a single mistake can derail an entire tournament, the fight for the crown will be decided in mere minutes, making the Doha showdown essential viewing.
