Chess
FIDE Women's World Cup Highlights: Divya Deshmukh crowned champion
Highlights from Divya Deshmukh's historic title win at FIDE Women's World Cup.
FIDE Women's World Cup Highlights: Divya Deshmukh bagged the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup title with a thrilling win over the experienced Koneru Humpy in Batumi, Georgia on Monday.
The 19-year-old Deshmukh registered a win with the black pieces in the second 15-minute rapid game to pocket the USD 50,000 dollar title.
Deshmukh also earned the Grandmaster title with this win, becoming only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this feat after Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali.
Highlights:
Live Updates
- 28 July 2025 10:12 AM GMT
Humpy has miscalculated
Some major miscalculation from Koneru Humpy under time pressure and Divya has a massive advantage.
The 19-year-old has a past pawn in the a-file and this could be it for Divya. She is on the verge of a historic victory!
- 28 July 2025 10:08 AM GMT
Well...that was a brief moment of excitement
Divya Deshmukh wrongly captures the white pawn on d5 and the position on board is back to equal. Humpy can breathe easy.
- 28 July 2025 10:05 AM GMT
Divya finds the best move!
Divya Deshmukh finds Qe5 and is now in drivers seat. She can now push for a win with the black pieces!
- 28 July 2025 10:04 AM GMT
Big error from Koneru Humpy
Under time pressure, Koneru Humpy has pushed e4. It is a mistake. Queen e5 from black will help her keep advantage.
Big moment in the game. Can Deshmukh find the correct move?
- 28 July 2025 9:47 AM GMT
A dead equal position
The engines evaluates as dead equal. But the real difference here is the clock. Humpy has just 4 minutes left, while Deshmukh has over 11 minutes left.
There is a 10-second increment on offer every move though. So, doubt if Humpy will worry about being low on time.
- 28 July 2025 9:31 AM GMT
Divya blitzes out moves
We are nine moves in and Divya Deshmukh seems well prepared in this opening. She is blitzing out moves and her clock is up to 16 minutes and 7 seconds.
Humpy is taking her time to think.
"It is hard for me to understand what she [Humpy] is thinking about," says Viswanathan Anand on air.
- 28 July 2025 9:28 AM GMT
The second game is underway!
The second game is underway. Koneru Humpy opts for Queen's gambit with the white pieces, Divya Deshmukh declines.
The position transposes into a closed Catalan after five moves.
- 28 July 2025 9:02 AM GMT
Game 1 ends in a DRAW!
This was inevitable for the past few minutes. Divya Deshmukh did try her best to force something out of a completely drawn position, but Humpy isn't one to give in easily.
The reigning women's world rapid champion puts on an accurate defensive display to hold for a draw.
This result now means that whoever wins the next game will be crowned the FIDE Women's World Cup champion.
