The World Chess Hall of Fame has announced its 2024 inductees, with former Women's World Champion Zhu Chen included among the 10 honorees.
Zhu Chen is the second Chinese player, after Xie Jun, to receive this prestigious recognition.
Born in 1976 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, Zhu Chen holds the titles of both Women's and Men's Grandmaster. She first gained international attention in 1988 by winning the world cadet under-12 chess championship and later claimed the women's world junior chess championship in 1994 and 1996.
Zhu Chen (right) becomes the Women's World Chess Champion in 2001. [Photo/66wz.com]
In 2001, Zhu Chen defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk to become the Women's World Chess Champion, following in the footsteps of Xie Jun as the second world champion in chess from China. She is the first player to win world titles in youth, junior, and adult categories.
Zhu Chen continues to contribute to the chess world, currently serving as treasurer of the World Chess Federation, where she oversees financial management and promotional activities.
The World Chess Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization based in the United States, inducts members nominated by the World Chess Federation. Typically, three individuals are inducted each year, with a maximum of five, but this year saw a record-breaking ten inductees. The Hall of Fame now includes 53 members, 17 of whom are women.
