Both games in the first round of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup Finals ended in draws. However, they were anything but boring. IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Koneru Humpy fought hard, while GM Lei Tingjie missed a win against GM Tan Zhongyi.
Divya Dominates Early, Humpy Survives
Divya Deshmukh started strongly against Koneru Humpy. By move 10, she had a huge advantage. She even sacrificed a piece to gain a powerful attack.
The game followed a famous 1992 battle between GMs Bareev and Ivanchuk. Divya had a chance to win quickly with 14.Qe2, but she played it one move later. That delay allowed Humpy to defend.
Despite some mutual mistakes, both players entered a tense endgame. Divya tried to press on with only two minutes on the clock. Humpy had ten. Still, neither of them blundered, and the game ended in a draw.
Humpy Breaks Down the Game
After the match, Humpy explained her key decisions. She said, “12.Rb1 was an improvement” for Divya. She also noticed the danger of 15.Qe2, even though she didn’t say it was winning. The chess engine later confirmed her evaluations.
Humpy also admitted that her move 13...Kf8 was wrong. She said she “felt this was the wrong move,” suggesting that 13...Kd8 would have been better. When she played 16...h5, she knew she had escaped danger.
Lei Builds Advantage, Then Accepts a Draw
In the third-place match, Lei Tingjie slowly outplayed Tan Zhongyi. They played the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation. Tan used 11.a4 and later 13.a5 to gain space.
But Lei turned the tables. She pushed her h-pawn, which led to Tan weakening her own kingside with 22.h3. From that moment, Lei held the advantage. However, the game ended surprisingly. On move 43, Tan offered a draw. Lei accepted, even though she was in a much better position.
What’s Next: Title, Qualification at Stake
Game two takes place on Sunday, July 27. If either player wins, the match ends. Divya and Humpy are fighting for the World Cup title. Lei and Tan are battling for third place and the last spot in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. If game two ends in a draw, tiebreaks will follow the next day.
About the Tournament
The event is being held at the Grand Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Batumi, Georgia. It follows a knockout format with 107 players. Each round has two classical games. Players get 90 minutes for the first 40 moves and 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds added per move. If scores are tied, faster time control tiebreaks decide the winner. Both finals are wide open. Humpy will have the white pieces in game two, which could be an advantage. Let’s see who seizes the moment.