In a first for Indian chess, the FIDE Women’s World Cup will have a winner from the nation with Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh set to battle it out in what might be anyone’s recreation within the grand finale in Batumi on Saturday (July 26, 2025).
It’s the first within the occasion’s historical past that two Indians are dealing with one another within the closing. Both Humpy and Deshmukh have certified for the Women’s candidates’ match subsequent yr after reaching the ultimate right here.
When is Divya Deshmukh vs Koneru Humpy FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 closing?
On pure expertise of taking part in large video games, Humpy goes within the closing because the favorite towards compatriot Deshmukh.
Humpy held her nerves to rating a come-from-behind victory within the semifinals over Tingjie Lei of China within the tiebreaker on Thursday, whereas Deshmukh defeated former world champion Zhongyi Tan — additionally of China — within the second recreation of the last-four stage match.
Grandmaster Humpy, 38, was the winner of the world girls’s speedy match and in addition tied for first on the girls’s grand prix in latest instances and he or she has proved but once more that age is only a quantity. Her grit and willpower has not pale one bit previously a few years.
“It’s one of the happiest moments for chess fans because now the title will go to India for sure. But of course, as a player, tomorrow will be quite a tough game as well — Divya has played tremendously well in this whole tournament,” Humpy instructed FIDE web site.
At half the age of Humpy, International Master Deshmukh has already shocked as many as three gamers ranked in high ten within the occasion. Her first sufferer was second seed Jiner Zhu of China, earlier than ousting D Harika.
The 19-year-old Nagpur-based Deshmukh then beat former girls’s world champion Zhongyi Tan of China within the semifinals.
“I simply want some sleep and a few meals, lately have been so anxious for me,” Deshmukh stated after coming into the ultimate.
“I think I could have played much better. I was winning at a certain point and then it got complicated. I think I messed up in the middlegame and that I should have had a much smoother win,” she stated about her semifinal match.
“She put up such a great fight at a certain point. I was just doubting if it was just a draw — I think I got lucky in the end.” Humpy was stretched to the tiebreaker in the pre quarterfinals by former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland and she followed it up with a clinical performance against Yuxin Song.
Her best, thus far, was reserved for the semifinals as she outclassed top seed Tingjei Lei of China in the five minutes’ games after the players had reached a 3-3 deadlock.
“I played a bit shaky in the rapid, but she also gave a very good fight. It could have gone either way,” Humpy stated about her semifinal opponent.
“It was a very tough match. Initially, I played quite badly with the Black pieces and she always had the advantage. After the loss (in Game 3), it was a very difficult situation, but I was able to come back.”
July 26, 2025 closing may even be performed over two classical video games and if the outcomes stand at 1-1, video games of shorter length might be performed to decide the winner.
The minimal take away for ending second right here is $35,000 whereas the winner will take residence USD 50000.
The further bonus is qualification to the subsequent Women’s Candidates match during which each the Indians have reserved their seats now. The 8-player Candidates match will resolve the challenger for reigning world champion Wenjun Ju of China within the subsequent world girls’s championship match.
Humpy has the power to sit by lengthy video games with out making errors. Deshmukh, then again, has an attacking fashion. It goes to be a battle of wits within the closing that begins after a lone relaxation day.
