Divya Deshmukh Stuns Second Seed Zhu Jiner at FIDE Women’s World Cup

Batumi, Georgia– Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh caused a major upset on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, defeating second-seeded Chinese Grandmaster Zhu Jiner in Game 1 of their pre-quarterfinal match at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Georgia. This crucial victory positions the 19-year-old on the brink of a historic quarterfinal berth.

Deshmukh’s Dominant Performance

Playing with white pieces, Divya Deshmukh exhibited remarkable control and strategic depth against the much higher-rated Zhu. She dominated the game for an extended period, ultimately securing a well-deserved win that has sent ripples through the tournament. This win gives Divya a 1-0 lead in the two-game match, meaning she only needs a draw in Game 2 to advance.

If successful, Divya will become only the second Indian player to ever reach the quarterfinal stage of a Women’s World Cup, a feat previously achieved solely by Dronavalli Harika in 2023.

Other Indians Play Out Draws

Meanwhile, the other Indian contingent in action in their respective last-eight matches were held to draws in Game 1:

• R. Vaishali, also playing with white pieces, drew her encounter against Kazakhstan’s Meruert Kamalidenova.
• Experienced Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli both played out draws with black pieces against Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk and Russia’s Kateryna Lagno, respectively.

Race for Candidates Tournament Spots

The FIDE Women’s World Cup is a significant event on the chess calendar, as it offers three coveted spots to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, which is scheduled for the first half of 2026. The Candidates Tournament determines the challenger for the Women’s World Championship.