FIDE Women’s World Cup R06 Game 2: Divya Deshmukh makes history by defeating former Women’s World Champion to reach final
Lei Tingjie and Humpy Koneru will tiebreak tomorrow In one of the most thrilling afternoons of chess in recent memory, India’s rising star, IM Divya Deshmukh, delivered a stunning upset by defeating former Women’s World Champion, GM Tan Zhongyi of China, to advance to the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup. The 19-year-old from Nagpur made history as the first Indian woman to reach the final of this prestigious tournament. With this landmark achievement, Divya also secures one of three highly sought-after spots in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, bringing her within striking distance of a world title challenge. In addition, her performance earns her a Grandmaster norm, a major milestone on the path to the sport’s highest title. Still absorbing the momentous result, Divya reflected candidly in her post-game remarks on stage: “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.” As she now prepares for the final, all eyes are on Divya Deshmukh, whose fearless play and quiet determination have already secured her a place in chess history. In the other hard-fought semi-final encounter, Indian GM Humpy Koneru maintained sustained pressure throughout the game, never allowing her opponent, GM Lei Tingjie, an easy path to equality. “Today’s game was very tough, and I think at some point she could have won,” Lei admitted in her post-game interview, acknowledging the uphill battle she faced. Despite being on the defensive for much of the game, Lei showed remarkable resilience and accuracy, with only one critical moment near the end where she stood on the verge of defeat. In the end, the draw was a hard-earned and well-deserved result. “Tournaments are like this—very up and down. At this point, you just have to fight for every game,” Lei concluded, reflecting the gritty determination required at this elite level of competition. Let’s take a closer look at the two games. Humpy Koneru vs Lei Tingjie (0.5-0.5) A special guest of the event, Mr. Armaz Chagalidze, Representative of the Ministry of Sport of Georgia, had the honor of making the first move on Humpy’s board. With a 5.5–4.5 head-to-head lead in Humpy’s favor, expectations were high for a tight and tense encounter — and the players did not disappoint. Humpy opened with 1.d4, to which Lei responded with the Slav Defence. Interestingly, although the Exchange Variation is not Humpy’s typical weapon of choice, she recently used it successfully against IM Nurgyul Salimova at the Pune Grand Prix. On the other side of the board, Lei has a long-standing history in the line, with games dating back to 2013 and continuing through 2024. The first key psychological moment occurred on move seventeen. Humpy paused to consider her options. A clear path to a draw existed via the repetition line: 17.Bb5 Rfc8 18.Ba6, which would have almost certainly led to a threefold repetition and a quick handshake. Instead, showing ambition, Humpy opted for 17.f3 e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Qxd7 The game transitioned into a complex and unbalanced double rook and pawn ending, with Humpy slightly better. However, Lei demonstrated excellent defensive precision, notably sacrificing a pawn to keep her rook and king active — a practical choice that neutralized White’s advantage. For a long stretch, engines evaluated the position as 0.00 — and the game seemed destined for a draw. And indeed, it was. But not before one final twist. With only one minute on her clock, Humpy missed a golden opportunity: 64.Rd5! This move cuts off the black king, followed up with 65.Kc5, White would have had a winning position. Instead, Humpy played 64.f5+?? Kd6, allowing Lei to set up the well-known Philidor third-rank defense, and from there, she held the draw without difficulty. “I was under pressure most of the game, but I think the endgame should be holdable. Still, it’s hard to defend,” Lei commented after the game. Looking ahead to the tiebreaks, she added calmly: “I’m just happy to play the tiebreaks after today’s game. If I lose, I don’t care. If I win, it will be a kind of gift.” https://youtu.be/YYDgQpz0PfM Divya Deshmukh vs Tan Zhongyi (1-0) The classical head-to-head score between these two competitors favoured Tan Zhongyi 3–1 going into today’s game. Nevertheless, in their previous encounter, the result was adraw—with Divya pressing in the final phase. This game marked a small but significant shift in Divya’s opening repertoire: for the first time in classical chess, she essayed 3.c3 against the Sicilian. Typically known for her preference for the Open Sicilian with 3.d4, the early deviation suggested a specific preparation or a surprise strategy. However, signs of discomfort emerged early on, as she spent considerable time during the opening phase—indicating she was slightly unfamiliar with the nuances of the position. At this moment, Divya played the natural 15.Qxc1, maintaining her lead in development. However, this was a missed opportunity. The engine reveals a much stronger continuation: 15.Qxd8+ Kxd8 (or 15…Bxd8 16.Nd6+) followed by 16.Rac1 Bb7 17.Rfd1+ In this line, White not only wins a pawn but also seizes long-term pressure with dominating rooks on the open files. It would have posed serious practical problems for Tan Zhongyi. By move 23, Divya faced a critical decision: to launch an attacking initiative or go for concrete gains by winning a pawn in exchange for the opponent’s activity. She chose the latter—a path that engines evaluate as suboptimal. This slight misjudgement shifted the momentum, and soon Tan Zhongyi seized the initiative. But the tide was far from settled. In this tense, complex moment, Tan had just under eight minutes remaining and used six of them here, calculating deeply. Unfortunately for her, she chose the wrong continuation. Tan played 32…Bxf3 followed by 33.gxf3 dxe2, allowing White to regain control. Instead, she had a spectacular tactical resource: 32…Rg4! 33.Nxe8 Bxf3! If 34.Nxc7, then comes 34…Rxg2+ 35.Kf1 Rxh2, and White cannot stop the devastating checkmate on h1. This stunning queen sacrifice would have turned the tables completely, and with Divya having only 30 seconds on the clock, it’s unclear whether she could have navigated through the complications. After Black’s missed chance, the game became
Every Move Counts: Around the world with the Creative Chess Challenge
To mark International Chess Day 2025, FIDE invited players from across the globe to take part in the “Creative Chess, a challenge to set up games in the most unexpected, meaningful, or visually striking places. What followed was a wonderful outpouring of imagination, storytelling, and global connection, all united by one game. Barcelona, Spain Susie Sun shared a breathtaking moment featuring her children, Elliot and his sister, playing chess on a rooftop with the majestic Sagrada Família as their backdrop. “Surrounded by sky and spires still reaching for heaven, it became more than just a game, a moment of connection and wonder suspended in a city of dreams.” Mumbai, India A youth-led initiative called Chess for Change saw four friends- Aaditya, Nehan, Krish, and Vivaan, take chess to the heart of bustling Mumbai. They played games in locations that reflect the rhythm and soul of the city: a police jeep, a rickshaw, a temple doorway, a local train station, and even a dental clinic. “In a city that never stops moving, neither does a good game of chess.” Costa Rica Chess made its way to volcanic heights, with games played on the slopes of both Irazú Volcano and Arenal Volcano. Deep Dive Dubai, UAE At Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest swimming pool, divers posed with a submerged chessboard. “Even a quiet game of chess becomes an unforgettable adventure.” Novato, California, USA Students at Hamilton K-8 School celebrated International Chess Day with a giant outdoor board as part of their summer camp, showing how chess can be a joyful part of school life and community. Bhaktapur, Nepal Jenish Tamang and Bede Saru Magar played in the ancient Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Through these images, we aim to promote religious tolerance, peace, and friendship across the globe all united by our shared love for chess.” Antananarivo, Madagascar In Madagascar, a football field became a chess arena, showing that the game has a place wherever people gather to play and compete. Sligo, Ireland In a fairytale setting, one couple posed for wedding portraits on a giant outdoor chessboard. Arezzo, Italy Another touching love story emerged from Tuscany, where two players met over a chessboard on July 20th, not knowing they were beginning more than just a game. “Our daughter was then born in the city of Merano (like the Meran Variation), so chess seems to be the theme of our love story.” Even pets joined in on the fun, posing proudly at chessboards around the world. In Costa Rica, a curious iguana was spotted beside a riverside setup, blending nature and strategy in the wild. Meanwhile in China, top player Lei Tingjie’s fluffy dog also joined the celebration, posing sweetly at a board, dressed and ready to “make a move”. This year’s Creative Chess challenge was part of FIDE’s broader theme for 2025: Every Move Counts. Through each submission, we were reminded how chess can bring people together across cultures, generations, and even species. Thank you to everyone who joined this global celebration. Keep tagging your moments with #InternationalChessDay and #CreativeChess, and remember: the board may be 64 squares, but the world of chess is boundless.