Latest news with #Vantika
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
FIDE Women's World Cup 2025: Indians in action in pre-quarterfinals; match-ups, pairings, colours, tournament tree
FIDE Women's World Cup 2025, Indians in action: The FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 is witnessing some strong performances from the Indian contingent. Four different players have made it to Round 4 (Pre-Quarterfinals) of the biennial event, happening in Batumi, Georgia. Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian to qualify for Round 4 after beating Serbian IM Teodora Injac 1.5-0.5 after the two-legged Classical match. She was followed by current World Rapid Champion, Koneru Humpy, who defeated Poland's Klaudia Kulon with the same 1.5-0.5 margin through Classical matches. The rest three Indian participants — Harika Dronavalli, R. Vaishali and Vantika Agrawal — played out a 1.0-1.0 draw in Classical time-control and moved to tiebreaks. Vantika was playing against a strong GM Kateryna Lagno, a multiple-time Blitz and Rapid World Champion. The young Indian started with a Classical win but the experienced Russian grandmaster enforced tiebreaks after beating Vantika in the following leg. Both of them played three draws before Lagno prevailed over Vantika with white pieces in the 10-minute time-control Rapid game. Lagno will take on Harika Dronavalli in Round 4 after the India No. 2 beat Stavroula Tsolakidou of Greece comfortably in tiebreaks. Vaishali beat the young sensation from the USA, IM Carissa Yip to make it into the pre-quarters. Divya will have an uphill task as she takes on China's Zhu Jiner, the current World No. 4 in Round 4. Humpy vs Alexandra Kosteniuk will be an equal match-up. Vaishali will lock horns with Kazakhstan's Meruert Kamalidenova. Vaishali and Divya will play their first match with white pieces, while Humpy and Harika will have the black pieces for the first match.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Chess World Cup: Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal share lead after 3rd-round opener, close in on pre-quarterfinals
Divya Deshmukh in Chess World Cup (FIDE Photo) Indian chess stars Vantika Agrawal and Divya Deshmukh advanced toward the pre-quarterfinals in the FIDE World Women's Chess Cup. They won their first games against Kateryna Lagno of Russia and Teodora Injac of Serbia, respectively. The USD 691250 knockout tournament has reached its final 32 participants. Vantika demonstrated her growing capabilities by defeating the higher-ranked Lagno. Divya Deshmukh, playing with black pieces, met expectations by winning against Teodora Injac. She now stands as a strong contender among the five remaining Indian players. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Top-rated Indian player Koneru Humpy drew her match with Kulon Klaudia of Poland while playing with white pieces. Harika Dronavalli also drew with Tsolakidou Stavroula, and R Vaishali shared points with Carissa Yip from the United States. Lei Tingjei of China, the tournament's top seed, won against Bulgaria's Antoaneta Stefanova. Stefanova now faces the challenge of defeating the highest-rated player to force a tiebreaker. Chinese player Zhu Jiner defeated Aleksandra Maltsveskaya of Poland, advancing closer to securing a spot in the last 16. Vantika's performance against one of the favoured Russian players became the day's highlight. The Russian participants are competing under the FIDE flag. Poll Do you follow the FIDE World Women's Chess Cup regularly? Yes, I watch every game Occasionally Not really No, I don't follow it The game began with a Grunfeld opening and developed into a symmetrical pawn structure during the middle game. While Lagno struggled with strategy, Vantika excelled in creating complications. Lagno's mistake on her 20th move gave Vantika an extra piece advantage. Vantika maintained her lead throughout the game. She now needs only a draw in her next game as black to advance to the next round. Divya secured her victory against Teodora Injac in an endgame that emerged from a queen pawn opening. The Serbian player's calculation errors allowed Divya to capitalise on the opportunities. Complete results round 3 game 1: Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) lost to Lei Tingjie (Chn); Zhu Jiner (Chn) beat Aleksandra Maltsveskaya (Pol); Irina Bulmaga (Rou) drew with Tan Zhongyi (Chn); Koneru Humpy (Ind) drew with Kulon Klaudia (Pol); Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) drew with Yixing Song (Chn); Vantika Agrawal beat Kateryna Lagno (Fid); Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) beat Valentina Gunina (Fid); Bella Khotenashvili (Geo) lost to Mariya Muzychuk (Ukr); Dronavalli Harika (Ind) drew with Tsolakidou Stavroula (Gre); Carissa Yip (Usa) drew with R Vaishali (Ind); Polina Shuvalova (Fid) drew with Lela Javakhashvili (Geo); Teodora Injac (Srb) lost to Divya Deshmukh (Ind); Kaliakhmet Elnaz (Kaz) drew Umida Polonova (Uzb); Meri Arabidze (Geo) drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk (Sui); Osmak Yuliia (Ukr) beat Lu Miaoyi (Chn); Kamalidenova Meruert (Kaz) drew with Anna Shukhman. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
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First Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Vantika Agrawal continues good form as she stuns higher-ranked Kateryna Lagno at FIDE Women's World Cup 2025
Vantika Agrawal produced another big surprise in the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 by defeating Kateryna Lagno, a vastly higher-ranked and more experienced opponent. read more Indian Grandmasters Vantika Agrawal and Divya Deshmukh staked their claims for the pre-quarterfinals after winning the first game of the third round against Kateryna Lagno of Russia and Teodora Injac of Serbia, respectively, in the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Batumi (Georgia) on Saturday. With the knockout event down to the last 32 participants, Vantika crushed higher-ranked Lagno, giving another indication of her fast-growing stature among the Indian women. Divya was the favourite in her match, and she lived up to the expectations by beating Injac with the black pieces. She is now a firm favourite amongst the five remaining Indians in the fray. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, the highest rated Indian Koneru Humpy settled for a draw with Kulon Klaudia of Poland with white pieces. D Harika also could not win and signed peace with Tsolakidou Stavroula, while another fancied Indian, R. Vaishali, played out a draw with Carissa Yip of the United States. Vantika scripts big win against Lagno Top seed Lei Tingjei of China defeated Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria. It remains to be seen how the Bulgarian comes to terms with a situation where she has to beat the highest-rated player in the event to force a tiebreaker. Another Chinese favourite, Zhu Jiner, put it across Aleksandra Maltsveskaya of Poland to be in the running to win a spot in the last 16. However, the day belonged to Vantika as she stole the limelight against one of the fancied Russians in the event. As is known, the Russian players here play under the FIDE flag. What started off with a Grunfeld took shape in a symmetrical pawn structure in the middle game, and Lagno struggled to find the right plan. Vantika was in her elements, though, as she went for complications at the first opportunity, and it was clear that Lagno was no match for the Indian in the tactics that emerged. An erroneous move by Lagno on her 20th turn gave Vantika an extra piece, and she never looked back. In the return game as black, Vantika just needs a draw to qualify for the next round. Divya outclassed Teodora Injac from a level-looking endgame arising out of a queen pawn opening. The Serbian was not able to calculate too well, and Divya cashed in without missing much. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Complete results of the round 3 game 1: Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) lost to Lei Tingjie (Chn); Zhu Jiner (Chn) beat Aleksandra Maltsveskaya (Pol); Irina Bulmaga (Rou) drew with Tan Zhongyi (Chn); Koneru Humpy (Ind) drew with Kulon Klaudia (Pol); Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) drew with Yixing Song (Chn); Vantika Agrawal beat Kateryna Lagno (Fid); Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) beat Valentina Gunina (Fid); Bella Khotenashvili (Geo) lost to Mariya Muzychuk (Ukr); Dronavalli Harika (Ind) drew with Tsolakidou Stavroula (Gre); Carissa Yip (Usa) drew with R Vaishali (Ind); Polina Shuvalova (Fid) drew with Lela Javakhashvili (Geo); Teodora Injac (Srb) lost to Divya Deshmukh (Ind); Kaliakhmet Elnaz (Kaz) drew Umida Polonova (Uzb); Meri Arabidze (Geo) drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk (Sui); Osmak Yuliia (Ukr) beat Lu Miaoyi (Chn); Kamalidenova Meruert (Kaz) drew with Anna Shukhman.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
IM Vantika Agrawal stuns former world champion Anna Ushenina in thrilling tiebreak battle at FIDE Women's World Cup
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): In a sensational second-round clash at the FIDE Women's World Cup, India's IM Vantika Agrawal pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far by eliminating former Women's World Champion GM Anna Ushenina. The intense match went the distance, with Vantika emerging victorious 4.5-3.5 after a series of nerve-wracking tiebreaks. Both players were inseparable across the initial rapid playoffs, with the 15+10 and 10+10 segments ending in draws. The tension escalated as the match moved into the 5+3 blitz segment, where Vantika took down Anna. In the first Blitz match, playing with the White pieces, Vantika displayed nerves of steel to edge out Ushenina in a dramatic encounter. She then held her ground with the Black pieces in the second blitz game, securing a crucial draw and clinching the match. It was a high-pressure contest for the young Indian international master, but her composure and resilience shone through against a seasoned Grandmaster and former world champion. With this remarkable victory, Vantika advances to Round 3, where she will face yet another formidable opponent, GM Kateryna Lagno. During the Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary in September, the Indian contingent made history when both men's and women's teams secured gold medals for the first time ever. The Indian women's chess team of Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev won gold after beating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal won their respective matches in the final round. While R Vaishali drew her match against Ulviyya Fataliyeva for the first time, alongside teammates Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal. (ANI)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Chess World Cup: 23-year-old Indian Vantika Agrawal stuns former world champion, pockets Rs 5.8 lakh so far
Vantika Agrawal (FIDE Photo) Indian International Master (IM) Vantika Agrawal, 23 advanced to the third round of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia, after defeating former world champion Anna Ushenina of Ukraine in a thrilling tie-breaker match with a score of 4.5-3.5 on Friday. The second-round match between Vantika and Ushenina went into tie-breakers after both players won one Classical game each. Vantika won the first Rapid tie-breaker but lost the second, ultimately securing victory in the Blitz section by winning the first game and drawing the second. "Just relaxed," Vantika told FIDE after reaching the next round. "In the Classical section, I won the first match. In the second game, I was much better, but somehow, in the time crunch, I ended up losing. Again, in the 10 + 10 I got the lead with the black and drawing with white should not have been a difficult task, but yeah, then scores got levelled and I won in the blitz section." Poll Would you like to see more coverage of women's chess tournaments? Definitely Maybe Not really Not at all "In the earlier games, the mistake I made was that I was thinking a draw was enough, but here I was thinking I just had to play well. I was not thinking about the result. I think that kind of helped me a lot," Vantika explained about her winning strategy. The Indian has secured prize money of $6,750 (approx. Rs 5.8 lakh) for reaching Round 3, where she will face former World Rapid and three-time World Blitz Women's champion GM Kateryna Lagno of Russia. International Master Padmini Rout was eliminated after losing to former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland in Round 2. Women's International Master Priyanka K also exited the tournament following losses in both Rapid tie-break games against Poland's Klaudia Kulon. Four other Indian players have already progressed to the third round of the tournament. Koneru Humpy will face Klaudia Kulon of Poland, while D Harika will play against Greece's Stavroula Tsolakidou. R Vaishali is set to compete against Carrisa Yip of the United States, and Divya Deshmukh will take on Serbia's Teodora Injac in their respective third-round matches. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
