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The Indian contingent gave tough fights to their opponents in round three of the ongoing FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup. Some contestants earned their qualification while some will face-off in tie-breaks. The tournament consists of head-to-head knockout matches with two classical games with white pieces once. If tied, players compete in best-of-two tiebreaks: first 15+10 (15 minutes +10 second increment per move), then 10+10, followed by 5+3. If still tied, single 3+2 ‘sudden-death’ games are played until a winner emerges. The ongoing FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup will offer three spots to the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
Outclassing their opponents in the third round, Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and world junior champion Divya Deshmukh qualified for the fourth round on Sunday, July 13. While Humpy handed a crushing defeat to Polish International Master Khaudia Kulon, Divya drew her second classical game to defeat Teodora Injac of Serbia. Post her draw, Divya became the first Indian to qualify for the fourth round. She will now face World No. 6 Chinese Grandmaster Zhu Jiner.
On her game against Teodora, Divya said, “Today was tougher than yesterday because I absolutely wanted a draw to qualify, but my mind couldn’t search for ways to make a draw.” Speaking of Koneru Humpy, she will face the winner of the match between GM Alexandra Kosteniul and IM Meri Arabidze. In her game against Polish IM, the India number on registered a 44-move win while defending with her black pieces.
Vaishali, Vantika and Harika to play tie-break to qualify to fourth round
Indian players Vantika Agrawal, R Vaishali and D Harika are also staking their claims to the top 16. Harika played out a second successive draw with Greek IM Stavroula Tsolakidou, while Vantika stunned her higher-ranked opponent, Ukrainian Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno with a draw in the two-round classical format after the former one suffered a 43-move defeat against her.
Vaishali was the last to finish her game in a 48-move draw against American IM Carissa Yip. They will contest in rapid and blitz format to stake their claim in the fourth round on Monday, July 14, 2025.
