Four Indian chess stars – Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, and R. Vaishali – have made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia.
A Historic Milestone for Indian Chess
This year’s FIDE Women’s World Cup marks an unprecedented achievement for Indian chess. For the very first time, multiple Indian players have advanced to the quarterfinal stage of the prestigious tournament.
Previously, only Harika Dronavalli had managed to reach this stage, doing so in 2023. Now, in the event’s third edition, India boasts an incredible 50% representation in the ‘Last Eight’ field, with four players out of eight being Indian.
The draw has even guaranteed an Indian semifinalist, as Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh are set to face each other in a highly anticipated all-Indian clash.
Road to the Quarterfinals: Impressive Victories
The Indian contingent showcased exceptional skill and resilience in the fourth round, with all four players securing their spots in the quarterfinals after thrilling tiebreaks.
Divya Deshmukh pulled off a major upset, knocking out the second seed, China’s Zhu Jiner. Koneru Humpy demonstrated her class by defeating former World Champion, Russian-Swiss Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Harika Dronavalli overcame a tough challenge from Kateryna Lagno, securing her passage. R. Vaishali emerged victorious from a nail-biting encounter against Meruert Kamalidenova, ensuring a dominant Indian presence in the next round.
Who’s Left in the Hunt?
Beyond the four formidable Indians, the competition features three strong players from China and the local Georgian favorite, Nana Dzagnidze. The field is now narrowed down to the elite, promising high-stakes battles ahead.
The Quarterfinal Showdowns: Match-ups Revealed
The pairings for the quarterfinals are set, promising exciting chess action. Here are the upcoming matches:
- Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) vs. Lei Tingjie (China)
- Koneru Humpy (India) vs. Yuxin Song (China)
- R. Vaishali (India) vs. Tan Zhongyi (China)
- Harika Dronavalli (India) vs. Divya Deshmukh (India)
For their first quarterfinal games, Divya Deshmukh, R. Vaishali, Koneru Humpy, and Nana Dzagnidze will have the disadvantage of playing with the dark pieces.
- Four Indian women chess players have reached the FIDE World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever.
- This ensures at least one Indian semifinalist due to an all-Indian quarterfinal match.
- Key victories included Divya Deshmukh beating the second seed and Koneru Humpy defeating a former World Champion.
The stage is now set for intense battles as these top players vie for a spot in the semifinals and ultimately, the coveted FIDE Women’s World Cup title.
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Four Indian chess stars – Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, and R. Vaishali – have made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia.
A Historic Milestone for Indian Chess
This year’s FIDE Women’s World Cup marks an unprecedented achievement for Indian chess. For the very first time, multiple Indian players have advanced to the quarterfinal stage of the prestigious tournament.
Previously, only Harika Dronavalli had managed to reach this stage, doing so in 2023. Now, in the event’s third edition, India boasts an incredible 50% representation in the ‘Last Eight’ field, with four players out of eight being Indian.
The draw has even guaranteed an Indian semifinalist, as Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh are set to face each other in a highly anticipated all-Indian clash.
Road to the Quarterfinals: Impressive Victories
The Indian contingent showcased exceptional skill and resilience in the fourth round, with all four players securing their spots in the quarterfinals after thrilling tiebreaks.
Divya Deshmukh pulled off a major upset, knocking out the second seed, China’s Zhu Jiner. Koneru Humpy demonstrated her class by defeating former World Champion, Russian-Swiss Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Harika Dronavalli overcame a tough challenge from Kateryna Lagno, securing her passage. R. Vaishali emerged victorious from a nail-biting encounter against Meruert Kamalidenova, ensuring a dominant Indian presence in the next round.
Who’s Left in the Hunt?
Beyond the four formidable Indians, the competition features three strong players from China and the local Georgian favorite, Nana Dzagnidze. The field is now narrowed down to the elite, promising high-stakes battles ahead.
The Quarterfinal Showdowns: Match-ups Revealed
The pairings for the quarterfinals are set, promising exciting chess action. Here are the upcoming matches:
- Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) vs. Lei Tingjie (China)
- Koneru Humpy (India) vs. Yuxin Song (China)
- R. Vaishali (India) vs. Tan Zhongyi (China)
- Harika Dronavalli (India) vs. Divya Deshmukh (India)
For their first quarterfinal games, Divya Deshmukh, R. Vaishali, Koneru Humpy, and Nana Dzagnidze will have the disadvantage of playing with the dark pieces.
- Four Indian women chess players have reached the FIDE World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever.
- This ensures at least one Indian semifinalist due to an all-Indian quarterfinal match.
- Key victories included Divya Deshmukh beating the second seed and Koneru Humpy defeating a former World Champion.
The stage is now set for intense battles as these top players vie for a spot in the semifinals and ultimately, the coveted FIDE Women’s World Cup title.
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