Batumi, Georgia – India’s rising chess sensation, Divya Deshmukh, has created history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup. The 19-year-old secured her spot by defeating China’s Tan Zhongyi 1.5-0.5 in Game 2 of their semifinal match on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Batumi, Georgia.
Decisive Victory and Candidates Qualification
After drawing the first game of the semifinal on Tuesday, Deshmukh displayed exceptional skill with the white pieces in Game 2. She capitalized on a crucial mid-game error from Tan Zhongyi, a former Women’s World Champion, to gain a two-pawn advantage before executing a queen trade. Despite a brief moment of fumbling her position, Deshmukh quickly regained her composure and maintained her advantage, eventually going a rook up. Faced with an insurmountable position, Tingjie (referring to Tan Zhongyi in the article’s text) resigned, clinching the match for the Indian prodigy.
This monumental win not only propels Deshmukh into the final but also guarantees her a coveted spot in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, scheduled for 2026. Furthermore, this stellar performance marks a significant milestone in her career as she secured her first Grandmaster norm.
A Grandmaster (GM) norm in chess is a high-level performance in a FIDE-rated tournament that meets specific criteria. To earn the prestigious Grandmaster title, a player typically needs to achieve three GM norms, along with a FIDE rating of 2500 or higher. These norms demonstrate a player’s ability to consistently perform at an elite level against strong opposition.
The FIDE Candidates Tournament is a pivotal event in the World Chess Championship cycle. Organized by FIDE, it serves as the final competition to determine the challenger who will face the reigning World Champion for the World Chess Championship title.
Humpy vs. Lei Tingjie Heads to Tiebreak
In the other semifinal clash, the all-Indian final dream remains partially alive. India’s Koneru Humpy and China’s Lei Tingjie played out their second consecutive draw, leaving their semifinal contest undecided after two classical games. Their match will now head to a tiebreak round, scheduled to be played on Thursday, July 24, to determine who will face Divya Deshmukh in the final.
The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 is scheduled to conclude on July 29, with the final and third-place matches running from July 26 to July 28.
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