Koneru Humpy Makes History as First Indian Woman in FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Semifinals

Historic Achievement for Koneru Humpy

Batumi [Georgia], July 20: Koneru Humpy has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to advance to the semifinals of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. A crucial draw in her second game against China's IM Song Yuxin secured her place in the final four, as reported by ESPN.

Despite a few minor errors during the match, Humpy maintained control, opting for a cautious and strategic approach. Ultimately, her opponent agreed to a draw, confirming Humpy's advancement.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, Humpy had already taken the lead by winning the first game against her opponent.

In another quarterfinal match featuring Indian players, Harika Dronavalli faced off against the young talent Divya Deshmukh. The game remained closely contested, with Divya, playing as white, employing the 'Slav Defense: Modern Line.' However, Harika skillfully denied her any significant opportunities, leading to a lengthy battle that concluded in a draw after 60 moves.

Meanwhile, Vaishali Rameshbabu's impressive tournament run ended with a defeat against the third seed, Tan Zhongyi from China.

Top seed Lei Tingjie also continued her strong performance, advancing to the semifinals after defeating Georgia's Nana Dzagnidze. Humpy is set to face Tingjie in a highly anticipated semifinal match, while Tan will compete against the winner of the Harika vs. Divya match.

The top three players in this tournament will secure spots in the Candidates tournament later this year, ensuring at least one Indian woman will have a chance to compete for a title.