Daijiworld Media Network - Batumi
Batumi, Jul 19: Grandmaster Koneru Humpy will lead India’s historic charge in the quarter-finals of the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup, where she will begin as the title favourite against China’s Yuxin Song.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, four Indian women—Humpy, D Harika, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh—have made it to the last eight, underscoring India’s growing dominance in women’s chess.
The all-Indian clash between D Harika and Divya Deshmukh ensures the country at least one semi-finalist. Meanwhile, R Vaishali faces a stern test against former world champion Tan Zhongyi of China. If all goes well, three Indians could feature in the semi-finals—a rare feat in a major FIDE event.
The stakes are higher than ever, as the top three finishers in Batumi will qualify for the next FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, a key step toward challenging for the world championship.
Humpy, who recently turned 38, proved her mettle by defeating former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland in a tense tiebreaker last round. A consistent performer on the global stage, Humpy is now eyeing her first World Cup title.
Veteran D Harika, a two-time semi-finalist at the Women’s World Cup, brings experience and composure to the table. But she faces stiff resistance from 18-year-old Divya Deshmukh, the tournament’s breakout star, who knocked out second seed Zhu Jiner of China in a dramatic tiebreak.
Vaishali, on the other hand, is riding high after her Grand Swiss win and qualification for the 2024 Candidates. But her quarter-final against the experienced Tan Zhongyi will be a crucial test of stamina and skill.
In the final quarter-final match, China’s Tingjie Lei takes on Georgia’s Nana Dzagnidze, adding more firepower to an already stacked line-up.
Quarter-final Pairings:
• Koneru Humpy (IND) vs Yuxin Song (CHN)
• D Harika (IND) vs Divya Deshmukh (IND)
• R Vaishali (IND) vs Tan Zhongyi (CHN)
• Tingjie Lei (CHN) vs Nana Dzagnidze (GEO)
India now stands just a few games away from a potential sweep into the Candidates and possibly even a first-ever Women’s World Cup title.