India’s teenage chess star Divya Deshmukh continued her sensational journey at the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 by defeating former World Champion Tan Zhongyi of China in the semifinals held in Batumi on Wednesday. With this memorable win, Divya has etched her name in history as the first Indian to reach the final of this prestigious event. The victory also secures her a spot in the upcoming Candidates Tournament.
Divya’s performance throughout the tournament has been nothing short of extraordinary. She stunned second seed Zhu Jiner of China in the fourth round, marking one of the biggest upsets of the event. In the quarterfinals, she faced Indian Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli, India’s No. 2 and a trailblazer who became the first Indian woman to reach the top eight back in 2023. After two drawn Classical games, the match moved to tiebreaks, where the 34-year-old Harika couldn’t match the pace of the young talent, allowing Divya to advance to the semifinals.
Next, Divya will face the winner of the other semifinal between top seed Lei Tingjie of China and India’s top-ranked player, Koneru Humpy. Their match has gone into tiebreaks following two closely fought draws in the Classical format.
Divya’s win has also opened the door for a rare opportunity—two Indian players could qualify for the prestigious Candidates Tournament. If Humpy makes it to the final, she will earn a spot as well. Even if she falls short, Humpy will have another chance to secure her place in the World Championship challenger tournament.
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