Veteran Koneru Humpy will take on the 19-year-old emerging star Divya Deshmukh in the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 making it an all-Indian affair for the first time in its history. Humpy defeated China’s Lei Tingjie in the semifinal of the tournament taking place in Batumi, Georgia on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Deshmukh had upstaged former World Champion and third-seeded China’s Tan Zhongyi in the semifinal to make her way to the final.
Humpy had a good back and forth against Tingjie as both the competitors kept pushing each other. To kick of the proceedings, both Humpy and Tingjie drew their 10+10 rapid games.
After the slow start, the game picked up pace when the Chinse Grand Master opened the second tiebreak (5+3 format) with a win with the white pieces. The Indian Grand Master then had to win the second game if she had to push the match into tie breaker. And she did just that. The match then advanced to the blitz tiebreak.
In the 3+2 blitz round opener, Humpy pounced on the mistake of her opponent and earned a game-changing win. The veteran then held on to her advantage to advance to the final.
The win not only sets up an all-Indian final for the first time ever but also means that an Indian will be crowned the women's chess champion, another first. Humpy and Deshmukh also secured their place in the Candidates with their semifinal wins.
The World Cup final will happen on July 26 and 27. The tiebreakers are scheduled for July 28, if the need for it arises.
