Divya Deshmukh Gets Emotional After Reaching Chess Women's World Cup Semifinals
🇮🇳 Divya Deshmukh is through to the semifinals of the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup! #FIDEWorldCup @DivyaDeshmukh05 pic.twitter.com/oUDcnQcGrP
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 21, 2025
Divya will now face a tough opponent in the semifinals, the 16th Women's World Champion, GM Tan Zhongyi of China. The other semifinal will see India's top-ranked woman player, GM Koneru Humpy, take on China's Lei Tingjie, who had earlier defeated Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia.
The final four is now confirmed, with two players from India and two from China remaining in the fray. Koneru Humpy got the better of China's Song Yuxin with a 1.5-0.5 score, while Tan Zhongyi knocked out Vaishali Rameshbabu with a score of 1.5-0.5. In the all-Indian Quarterfinal, Divya Deshmukh beat Harika Dronavalli 3-1, while Lei Tingjie dominated Nana Dzagnidze 2-0.
As the tournament enters its business end, all eyes will be on the high-voltage India vs China clashes, with a place in the final at stake.
The top three finishers of the tournament will earn a spot in the Candidates later this year. One thing is now confirmed, at least one Indian woman will be in the mix for a shot at the Candidates.
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