23-year-old Chinese chess superstar Zhu Jiner to debut at Norway Chess Women 2026

NEW DELHI: Chinese Grandmaster (GM) Zhu Jiner will play in Norway Chess Women 2026 for the first time. She shared her feelings about the event and said, “I’m very happy and honoured to be playing Norway Chess Women for the first time. It’s a tournament I’ve followed for many years, and I really like the format. I’m excited to take on this challenge and give my very best in Oslo!” This will be her debut in the tournament. Her career has grown very fast in the last year. At the start of 2025, she was ranked World No. 10. By October, she reached World No. 2 and she still holds that position today. Her strong results made her one of the top players in the Women’s World Championship cycle.One of her biggest achievements came in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024–2025. She tied for first place in all three events she played. This helped her win the overall series. It also earned her a spot in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, which decides who will challenge for the world title.Zhu is known for her balanced style. She is strong in tactics and she also understands long strategic positions. She can play sharp attacks and she can play slow and careful games.She first played in Norway Chess Open last year in Stavanger. This year, she will return to Norway to play in Oslo. She will face the best female players in the world, including Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun.Benedicte Westre Skog from Norway Chess said, “Zhu Jiner has taken remarkable steps forward in a short time and is now firmly among the world’s best players. She’s an exciting player to watch, and we hope fans in China, especially those following Norway Chess on Weibo, will enjoy seeing her compete in Oslo.”Norway Chess Women started in 2024. It runs alongside the main Norway Chess event with the same format and prizes. It is now one of the most important women’s chess tournaments. Norway Chess 2026 will be held from May 25 to June 5 in Oslo.