The first game of the FIDE Women's World Cup final between Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh ended in a draw after 41 moves in Batumi, Georgia. This historic all-India clash guarantees that an Indian will win the Women's World Cup for the first time.
Divya Deshmukh, playing with white, started aggressively, surprising many with her opening move. She gained an early advantage, putting Humpy on the defensive. However, as the game progressed, Humpy, known for her experience and precise calculations, neutralized the pressure. According to the engine, Divya missed an opportunity to achieve an opening advantage on move twelve, but certainly on move fourteen she went wrong. In a critical position, the computer recommended 13…Kd8 for Black. Instead of capturing on b7, Divya should have played 14.Qe2!, maintaining a crushing +2.5 advantage. The move intensifies the pressure on the exposed Black king and keeps White's attacking momentum alive.
The game eventually reached an equal endgame, and a draw was agreed upon through repetition. Despite the draw, Divya Deshmukh appeared visibly disappointed, possibly feeling she had missed an opportunity to gain a crucial advantage in the first game. Humpy, on the other hand, seemed content with salvaging a draw after a shaky start. In her post-game interview, Humpy admitted she had narrowly escaped defeat: “I think she was clearly better after 12.Rb1 instead of 12.Nc4. After that, I'm not sure what was going on, but it was very complicated".
Koneru Humpy, 38, is an established Grandmaster and a former World Rapid Champion. She is considered one of the best female chess players India has ever produced. Humpy achieved the Grandmaster title at the age of 15 years, 1 month and 29 days. She has won numerous accolades, including three gold medals at the World Youth Chess Championship, the British Women's Championship, and the Asian Women's Individual Championship. She has also received the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri, two of India's highest honors.
Divya Deshmukh, 19, is a rising star in the chess world, holding the titles of Woman Grandmaster and International Master. She won the 2022 Women's Indian Chess Championship and the 2023 Asian Women's Chess Championship. In 2024, she became the FIDE World U20 Girls Chess Champion. Deshmukh also contributed to India's gold medal victory at the 2020 Online Chess Olympiad and secured an individual bronze medal at the 2022 Chess Olympiad. En route to the final, Deshmukh had a stunning victory over former world champion Zhongyi Tan of China in the semi-finals of the FIDE Women's World Chess Cup. With this victory, Deshmukh also secured a spot in the prestigious Women's Candidates Tournament next year.
The second and final classical game is scheduled for tomorrow, with Humpy playing with the white pieces. If the scores are level after the second game, the winner will be determined through tiebreaks. Both players have already secured spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which will determine the challenger to the current world champion, Ju Wenjun.
This all-Indian final is a clash of generations and playing styles. Humpy's solid defensive skills and vast experience are matched against Deshmukh's aggressive, tactical prowess. The chess world anticipates an exciting conclusion to this historic event.
