2025: A breakthrough year for Song Yuxin

Song Yuxin’s 2025 season marked a decisive step forward in her career. Focusing exclusively on classical chess, this analysis looks at how a heavy tournament schedule, largely centred on open events, translated into a major rating climb, a rise from the fringes of the top 100 to the women’s top 25, and a strong finish to her final year as a junior. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza