The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia, has reached the exciting semi-final stage. For Indian fans, it’s not just about cheering for their own, but also witnessing a tight race against some of China’s strongest grandmasters. So, how did the first round go? And how are the Indians holding up against Chinese dominance? Let’s take a look.
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025: India vs China in the Semis
This year of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 has been a big one for Asian chess, and the semifinals are all about India vs China. The semi-final pairings are Koneru Humpy (India) vs Lei Tingjie (China) and Divya Deshmukh (India) vs Tan Zhongyi (China).
Both Indian players have made the country proud by reaching this far. For China, their big guns remain as tough as ever, with Tan Zhongyi, a former World Champion, and Lei Tingjie, the top seed this year.
Indians’ Journey So Far In The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025
Koneru Humpy: She booked her place in the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 semis by defeating China’s Song Yuxin 1.5-0.5. Humpy is making history, becoming the first Indian ever to reach the World Cup semifinals, and showing remarkable consistency throughout the tournament.
Divya Deshmukh: The 19-year-old IM is the talk of the tournament. Divya defeated Harika Dronavalli in a tense quarterfinal tiebreak, winning 2-0, and she now faces one of the finest chess players in the world, Tan Zhongyi, in the semis.
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025: The Semi-Final Game
The first round of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 saw both Indian players holding their own:
Humpy vs Lei Tingjie: Humpy, with Black, played solidly to hold the higher-rated Lei to a comfortable draw. There was hardly any moment where Lei got a clear advantage; the opening was well-handled, and the position never went out of control for Humpy.
Divya vs Tan Zhongyi: Divya’s defense was equally impressive. Playing as Black against Tan, Divya navigated the Queen’s Gambit Declined with composure. Piece exchanges came steadily, and neither player managed to find a real breakthrough, leading to another solid draw.
What’s Next In The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025
Both Indians will now get the White pieces in the second leg of the semis, giving them a slight advantage on paper. If they manage to hold or win, they move on to the finals. If the second classical game is also drawn, matches will go into rapid tiebreakers.
The tournament is not just about trophies, as the top three finishers qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, ultimately leading to a challenge against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun.
Even if both Indian players lose in the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinals, one will still play for third place, guaranteeing at least one Indian spot in the Candidates event next year.
For now, the Indians have not just survived, but stood strong, holding two of the game’s best to draws and keeping their championship hopes alive. So keep an eye out as the game is just getting started.
Also Read: WWE Raw July 14 Enters Global Top 5 In Viewership
