The all-Indian FIDE Women’s World Cup final has turned into a gripping contest between Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and 19-year-old International Master Divya Deshmukh. After two days and two games, there’s still no clear winner. Both Classical games ended in draws, and the title will now be decided through tie-breaks on Monday.

Missed Opportunity in Game 1

Divya had a strong chance to take the lead in the first game on Saturday. She created promising positions, taking advantage of mistakes made by the seasoned Humpy. However, she couldn’t convert those chances into a win. Instead, Humpy used her experience to force a 41-move draw. Despite the official result, Divya saw it as a missed opportunity.

“I was quite disappointed with the first game obviously because I saw everything and I just always ended up making the wrong choice, and it was quite a pity. Even though it was a draw, it kind of felt like a loss,” Divya said in an interview with FIDE.

Game 2 Ends Quickly After Tight Battle

In the second game on Sunday, Divya came out aggressively once again. She aimed to push for a win, but Humpy stood firm. The veteran GM not only matched Divya’s moves but even pressured her at certain moments.

Divya admitted that she misjudged the situation and made things unnecessarily complicated.

“I think I got myself into a mess for no reason. I was trying to see if there was a win, but I missed this …Qb8 [on move 26]…. It should have been an easy draw,” she explained.
The game wrapped up after just 34 moves through a three-fold repetition.

Tie-Breaks to Decide the Winner

Now, the focus shifts to the tie-breaks — a high-pressure format involving rapid and blitz games. These shorter time controls will decide who lifts the title, and Divya faces an uphill task. Humpy is a two-time reigning world rapid chess champion, giving her an edge in this format.

Still, Divya remains mentally strong. She isn’t letting regret distract her from the challenge ahead. “I just tell myself that I have the rest of my life to be sad about it, so don’t be sad today and we can be sad about it afterwards,” she said with determination.

Looking Ahead

With both players showing tactical brilliance and resilience, Monday’s tie-break promises to be a thrilling finale. Whether it’s Humpy’s experience or Divya’s fearless energy that prevails, this all-Indian final has already made history — and the best is yet to come.