Our Bureau
Batumi
India will witness a historic first in the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup as Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and International Master Divya Deshmukh prepare to face off in an all-Indian final starting Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Batumi, Georgia. This is the first time two Indian women have reached the World Cup final, marking a milestone for Indian chess on the global stage. Both players have also secured spots in the prestigious Women’s Candidates Tournament set for 2026.
Koneru Humpy earned her place in the final after a thrilling tiebreak win against Chinese Grandmaster Lei Tingjie. After drawing all classical games and the initial rapid tiebreaks, Humpy fell behind in the 10-minute rapid segment but displayed remarkable resilience and technique to dominate the last two games, winning convincingly in positions where victories were critical. Her experience and unyielding determination proved decisive to clinch a 5-3 victory in the extended tiebreaker.
On the other side, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made headlines by defeating former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi with a commanding 1.5-0.5 score in classical games, showcasing the new generation of Indian talent rising in women’s chess. Deshmukh’s success has not only propelled her to her first World Cup final but also positioned her to become a Grandmaster should she win the title.
The final match will be contested over two classical games on Saturday and Sunday, with potential tiebreaks on Monday if required. Each player will have 90 minutes for the first 40 moves and 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds increment per move. The winner will receive $50,000 (₹41.6 lakh), and the runner-up $35,000 (₹29.1 lakh).
This all-Indian final underscores India’s rise in the chess world recently, following achievements like Gukesh D becoming the youngest World Chess Champion and India winning both Open and Women’s sections at the Budapest Olympiad. If Humpy wins, it will add a rare World Cup title to her illustrious career; if Deshmukh triumphs, she will make history as a young Grandmaster champion.
