India, April 17 -- After 38 moves in Game 9, Ju Wenjun checked her scoresheet for a few seconds before stopping the clock, claiming a draw through three-fold repetition, shaking her opponent's hand, and walking away with an inscrutable expression - as if nothing had happened.

The 34-year-old Chinese Grandmaster had just become the women's world chess champion for the fifth time. The first Chinese and only the fourth woman in history to do so - after Vera Menchik, Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze.

Though she fell behind in Game 2 against fellow Chinese Tan Zhongyi, the match eventually turned into a blowout, with Ju reeling off four consecutive wins. Heading into Wednesday's game, Tan had the onerous task of winning four games ...