# The Teenager Who Beat a World Champion — Then Kept Going

> A 16-year-old International Master just knocked the reigning Women's World Champion out of an elite online tournament — and then won 11 of her next 12 games to reach the final. Here's the story of Alice Lee's giant-killing run.

_By Akash Mitra · Jul 31, 2026_

Imagine sitting down across from the reigning world champion. Your hands are a little sweaty. The clock is ticking fast — a few seconds a move, no time to think twice. Most players would just be hoping to survive.

Sixteen-year-old IM Alice Lee didn't survive. She won.

**The upset that started it all**

In the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women's Speed Chess Championship, Lee was paired against GM Ju Wenjun — the Women's World Champion and the defending champion of this very event. On paper, it looked like a mismatch. IM Alice Lee upset Women's World Champion and reigning WSCC Champion GM Ju Wenjun on Friday in the 2026 Women's Speed Chess Championship Quarterfinals. And she didn't just sneak by — Lee dominated all three portions and won the match with a shockingly one-sided 9.5-3.5 score.

For context: the Women's Speed Chess Championship is one of the biggest online events in women's chess, played in fast time controls — bullet (a few seconds per move) and blitz (a few minutes per game). Beating anyone 9.5–3.5 in that format is a statement. Beating the *world champion* by that margin is the kind of result that makes the whole chess world sit up.

**She didn't stop there**

A wobble after a big win would be understandable. Instead, Lee kept rolling. In her semifinal against FM Anastasia Avramidou, she was almost untouchable. A run of 11 wins in 12 games saw 16-year-old IM Alice Lee overwhelm FM Anastasia Avramidou to reach the Final of the 2026 Women's Speed Chess Championship.

Two matches, two dominant performances — one against a champion, one against a dangerous challenger. That's not luck. That's someone playing at the peak of her game, at exactly the right moment.

**What's next**

The final spot on the other side of the bracket is still being decided. She'll face the winner of GM Bibisara Assaubayeva vs. GM Hou Yifan — which means the final will pit a teenager riding an incredible wave of form against one of two seasoned, elite grandmasters. Whoever gets there will need more than experience to slow Lee down right now.

**Why this matters**

Speed chess has a way of humbling even the best players — a single blunder under time pressure can undo hours of preparation. But it also rewards nerve, instinct, and fearlessness — qualities that don't always come with age. Right now, one of the most experienced champions in women's chess has already found that out the hard way.

The final hasn't been played yet. But if the last two rounds are anything to go by, whoever steps in against Alice Lee should be ready for a fight — not a formality.