The FIDE Women’s World Cup final between Indian grandmasters Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh is going down to the wire, with their second classical game ending in a draw and forcing a tiebreak.
The Marathon Final Continues
The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 has been a test of endurance, both physically and mentally. This all-Indian final in Batumi, Georgia, proved no different. After two intense classical games, neither Koneru Humpy nor Divya Deshmukh managed to secure a decisive victory.
Their second classical encounter concluded in a draw, pushing the high-stakes decider to an extra day of tiebreaker matches.
Humpy’s Calculated Approach
While the first game saw missed chances for Divya, the second was marked by a cautious approach from Humpy. Playing with the white pieces, she opted for a non-risky English opening, beginning with knight to f3.
This choice highlighted Humpy’s strength in positional chess, aiming to gradually outmaneuver Divya later in the game rather than seeking immediate tactical complications.
Navigating the Middlegame
The players quickly exchanged minor pieces, with Humpy retaining her dark-squared bishop for Divya’s knight, keeping queens on the board for counterplay. Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay analyzed Humpy’s strategy, noting her transition into a Queen’s Gambit Declined variation.
Thipsay expected Humpy to play for a better pawn structure. However, she chose a bishop-over-knight advantage, a decision he felt might not have suited her as well as a superior pawn structure.
Endgame Tensions and Missed Opportunities
By the 22nd move, the game transitioned into an endgame with equal pawns. Humpy sought to gain an edge with her active bishop, even sacrificing a central pawn to maintain a sharp position and pressure Divya.
Divya’s exchanges led to a complex but roughly equal position. Thipsay noted that while double bishops are generally preferred, in this semi-open structure, the advantage was not significant. Divya correctly exchanged rooks, and a draw seemed imminent by move 20.
Despite this, Humpy continued to take bold decisions, including a pawn sacrifice on move 23 that put Divya in a difficult spot. Though Divya missed a crucial move on the 24th that could have forced a draw, Humpy later allowed Divya to improve her position, leading to a perpetual check and the eventual draw.
The Tiebreak Showdown: What to Expect
With both players undoubtedly drained after nearly a month of intense competition, the tiebreak promises a high-octane battle. Neither Humpy nor Divya is expected to yield easily.
Koneru Humpy, a two-time and reigning World Rapid Champion, generally holds an edge in shorter time controls. However, Divya Deshmukh has never lost to Humpy in rapid chess, with one win and one draw in their two recorded encounters.
Should the tiebreak progress to the Blitz rounds, Humpy’s advantage becomes more pronounced. As the 2022 World Blitz Championship runner-up, she has a dominant record against Divya in this format, winning four out of their five blitz games.
Expert Insights from Viswanathan Anand
Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand weighed in on the match-up. He observed that while Humpy has a stronger record on paper, Divya carries significant momentum. Anand highlighted Humpy’s impressive comeback after a break, noting her recent victories in the Women’s World Rapid Championship and other strong performances.
Anand also praised the broader success of Indian chess, with two Indian players in the final and the blend of veteran players like Humpy and Harika with emerging talents like Vaishali and Divya.
- The FIDE Women’s World Cup final goes to a tiebreak after a second classical draw.
- Koneru Humpy’s cautious positional play led to a complex, balanced game.
- Humpy has an edge in rapid chess (despite Divya’s undefeated record against her) and a significant advantage in blitz.
- The final guarantees an Indian spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, reflecting India’s growing chess prowess.
The chess world now awaits the thrilling conclusion to this historic all-Indian final, as Humpy and Divya battle it out in the faster time controls.
