India’s chess star Koneru Humpy has taken a significant step towards the FIDE Women’s World Cup semifinals, comfortably defeating China’s Yuxin Song in their quarterfinal clash.
Humpy’s Strategic Masterclass
Koneru Humpy showcased her veteran prowess in the first leg of her quarterfinal match against Yuxin Song. Playing with white pieces, Humpy initially fell behind on the clock as Yuxin blitzed out her opening moves, gaining a significant time advantage.
Despite the early time pressure, Humpy remained composed and made accurate moves. She deliberately allowed Yuxin to gain time while meticulously setting up a strong position. This strategic approach paid off as Humpy eventually neutralized Yuxin’s quick start.
The turning point arrived around the 18th move when Yuxin castled kingside. From that moment, Humpy took decisive control, forcing advantageous exchanges and steering the game towards a winning rook endgame. Being two pawns up, she clinically converted the position, securing a crucial victory. Humpy now needs only a draw in the second leg on Sunday to qualify for the semifinals.
Yuxin Song’s Journey to the Quarterfinals
Before facing the Indian ace, China’s Yuxin Song had already made a name for herself in the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025. She earned the nickname “giant slayer” by impressively eliminating several top contenders.
Her remarkable run included ousting Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, a multiple-time World Champion in faster formats. Yuxin also dispatched Georgia’s IM Lela Javakhishvili in the fourth round, proving to be a challenging opponent for experienced players.
Other Quarterfinal Highlights
All-Indian Draw
In an all-Indian clash, Divya Deshmukh and Harika Dronavalli played to a rather uneventful draw. They were the first to finish their game, with Divya, playing white, offering a draw in a fairly equal position after 31 moves. Harika, after a brief deliberation, accepted the offer.
Vaishali’s Solid Performance
R. Vaishali faced World Championship challenger Tan Zhongyi and held her ground firmly. Playing with white pieces, Vaishali demonstrated solid and accurate play throughout the game. After a lengthy battle spanning 72 moves in a Giuoco Piano Game, both players agreed to a draw via threefold repetition. This match proved to be the longest of the day.
Dramatic Loss for Dzagnidze
The match between local favorite Nana Dzagnidze and China’s World No. 3 Lei Tingjie ended in unexpected drama. Dzagnidze lost on time due to a mix-up regarding the 40-move mark, where players typically receive additional time. Both players had accidentally made errors in their scoresheets, leading to confusion over the move count.
Despite a lengthy discussion with the arbiters, the ruling stood, handing Lei a 1-0 lead in the match. It was a tough break for the Georgian player, who was already in a difficult position.
- Koneru Humpy secured a dominant win over Yuxin Song, taking a strong lead in their quarterfinal.
- Humpy needs only a draw in the second leg to advance to the semifinals.
- Yuxin Song had an impressive “giant slayer” run before her match with Humpy.
- R. Vaishali held World Championship challenger Tan Zhongyi to a hard-fought draw.
- Nana Dzagnidze lost her quarterfinal game on time due to a scoring error, giving Lei Tingjie the advantage.
The FIDE Women’s World Cup continues to deliver thrilling chess, setting the stage for an exciting race to the semifinals.
