Chess fans are in for a treat as the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 quarterfinals kick off in Batumi, Georgia. This year’s tournament has already delivered some real surprises, especially for Indian fans, with all four Indian contenders making it to the last eight. Here’s a simple rundown of what you need to know, who’s playing, when, and how you can catch the action.
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals Overview
The FIDE Women’s World Cup is a knockout event featuring 107 of the world’s best women chess players. Held at the Grand Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Batumi from July 5 to July 29, the event carries a $50,000 top prize and three coveted spots for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament.
Each stage consists of two classical games (90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest, with a 30-second increment from move one). If scores are tied, players go to rapid and blitz tiebreaks until there’s a winner.
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals Schedule
The first classical game of the quarterfinals starts on Saturday, July 19th at 4:30 p.m. IST (7 a.m. ET / 13:00 CEST). There are no rest days at this stage; matches run straight through over the next two days.
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals Pairings
The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals feature a strong Indian presence, along with top players from China and Georgia. Here’s how the matchups look:
| Player 1 (Country) | Rating | vs | Player 2 (Country) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) | 2505 | vs | Lei Tingjie (China) | 2552 |
| Koneru Humpy (India) | 2543 | vs | Song Yuxin (China) | 2410 |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) | 2481 | vs | Tan Zhongyi (China) | 2546 |
| Divya Deshmukh (India) | 2463 | vs | Harika Dronavalli (India) | 2483 |
Players To Watch
All eyes will be on the all-Indian clash between youngster Divya Deshmukh and experienced GM Harika Dronavalli, guaranteeing an Indian semifinalist. Humpy Koneru has a tricky match-up against Song Yuxin, while Vaishali faces top Chinese seed Tan Zhongyi. Dzagnidze, the only Georgian left, tackles top-seeded Lei Tingjie.
Where To Watch
You can follow the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals live with expert commentary on the official FIDE website, YouTube streams on the FIDE Chess channel, and leading platforms like Chess.com and Lichess, showing live boards and analysis.
Besides prize money, the top three finishers will qualify for the next stage in the world championship cycle, setting the tone for global women’s chess in 2026.
Also Read: 2025 FIDE Womens World Cup: All Indians In Quarterfinals
