Divya Deshmukh Advances to Finals of FIDE Women’s World Cup After Defeating Chinese Grandmaster

Divya Deshmukh's Remarkable Journey

Batumi [Georgia], July 24: India's chess prodigy, IM Divya Deshmukh, has continued her impressive streak at the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup by overcoming China's GM Tan Zhongyi in the second match, securing her place in the finals.

This victory not only propels the 19-year-old into the final of this esteemed tournament but also grants her a prestigious Grandmaster norm and a spot in the upcoming Women’s Candidates Tournament, marking a significant milestone in her chess career.

The identity of the second finalist will be determined on Thursday, with a crucial playoff between India's Koneru Humpy and China's Lei Tingjie, which could lead to an all-Indian final.

In their initial encounter, Humpy and Lei Tingjie ended in a stalemate, with a score of 0.5-0.5, mirroring the first semifinal match between Tan Zhongyi and Deshmukh.

Previously, Humpy made history as the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of this tournament. A solid draw in her second game against China's IM Song Yuxin was sufficient to secure her advancement, as reported by ESPN.

Despite a few minor missteps, Humpy maintained control throughout the match, playing strategically. Ultimately, her opponent opted for a draw, confirming Humpy's place in the final four.

Earlier in the tournament, Koneru Humpy made a strong start by winning the first game in the quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup held in Batumi on Saturday night.

Deshmukh showcased her skills by defeating fellow Indian GM Harika Dronavalli in the quarterfinals, winning both tie-break games to progress to the semifinals.

The classical segment of the match was fiercely contested, but Divya seized her chance during the first tie-break when Harika made a critical mistake in the endgame. In the second tie-break, Harika had opportunities to recover but failed to capitalize, allowing Divya to advance with poise and maturity.