The Belt and Road Initiative's 2024 Women's Chess Masters World Championship concluded in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on July 22.

The Belt and Road Initiative's 2024 Women's Chess Masters World Championship wraps up in Xi'an on July 22. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

After nine rounds of intense competition, Chinese player Tan Zhongyi emerged as the champion, Greek player Stavroula Tsolakidou secured second place, and Bulgarian player Antoaneta Stefanova claimed the third spot.

Lasting for five days, the event brought together top female chess players from 10 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, offering a spectacular intellectual feast for chess enthusiasts worldwide.

This year's competition saw a comprehensive upgrade in event activities, adopting a "1+1+7" model, consisting of a core event – the Belt and Road Initiative's 2024 Women's World Chess Maters World Championship, a supporting sub-event – the National Youth Chess Challenge, and seven special activities.

Prior to the awards ceremony, 20 international chess masters engaged in a 1 vs 10 simultaneous game with 200 winners of the national youth chess challenge, fostering direct exchanges between chess enthusiasts and top players while promoting cultural integration among different nations.

The successful holding of the event has propelled the development of the sports industry in Shaanxi while also offering Xi'an residents more opportunities to participate in and witness high-level sports activities.