Koneru Humpy Advances in FIDE Women's Chess Cup Quarterfinals
In a thrilling round of the FIDE Women's Chess Cup, Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy outperformed Yuxin Song from China, moving closer to the semifinals. The quarterfinals also featured an all-Indian draw between Divya Deshmukh and D Harika, while top seed Tingjie Lei secured a win against Nana Dzagnidze. With a significant prize pool and qualifying spots for the Candidates’ Tournament on the line, the competition remains fierce. Read on for detailed match insights and results.
| Jul 20, 2025, 03:32 IST
Humpy's Dominant Performance
Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy showcased her exceptional skills by defeating China's Yuxin Song in the opening game of the quarterfinals at the FIDE World Women’s Chess Cup on Saturday.
Humpy demonstrated her strategic prowess right from the start, as Song, playing with the black pieces, opted for an English opening. The game quickly evolved into a structure reminiscent of a Catalan opening.
In the early middle game, Humpy launched a strong offensive in the center, sacrificing a pawn to disrupt Song's pawn structure significantly. From that point, Song struggled to regain her footing.
Humpy continued her assault with another pawn advance, and by the end of the skirmish, Song found herself down by two pawns. Despite her efforts to turn the tide, the Chinese player could not find a way back into the game, which lasted 53 moves.
All-Indian Clash Ends in Stalemate
In another quarterfinal match, the all-Indian face-off between Divya Deshmukh and D Harika concluded in a draw, with both players exhibiting solid defensive play.
The game commenced with a Ruy Lopez, where Divya, playing white, opted for a less common variation. Harika effectively neutralized white's threats, leading to a position that offered minimal chances for either side.
After the queens were exchanged, the outcome seemed inevitable, and the players agreed to a draw after just 31 moves.
Tingjie Lei Shines in Quarterfinals
Top seed Tingjie Lei from China also secured a victory, defeating Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia while playing with the black pieces, solidifying her status as a strong contender for the semifinals.
This match was a tactical showdown, where Dzagnidze struggled against Lei's superior strategy. The game transitioned into a hanging pawns structure, creating vulnerabilities for both kings. However, Lei capitalized first, winning a knight and easily converting her advantage in the endgame.
Vaishali and Tan Draw in Quarterfinals
In another quarterfinal encounter, R Vaishali drew with former world champion Zhongyi Tan of China. Vaishali, playing white, opened with an Italian game, but the position remained balanced throughout.
In the endgame, Vaishali exchanged a rook for a bishop, leading to a position that was ultimately drawn. This match extended to 73 moves, making it the longest game of the day.
Prize Pool and Future Opportunities
The FIDE Women's Chess Cup boasts a total prize pool of USD 691,250, with USD 50,000 designated for the winner. Additionally, three qualifying spots for the upcoming women’s Candidates’ Tournament are at stake, which will determine the challenger for reigning champion Wenjun Ju in the next world championship match.
Quarterfinal results game 1: Koneru Humpy (Ind) defeated Yuxin Song (Chn); Tingjie Lei (Chn) triumphed over Nana Dzagnidze (Geo); R Vaishali (Ind) drew with Tan Zhongyi (Chn); Divya Deshmukh (Ind) drew with D Harika (Ind).