FIDE Girls’s World Cup: Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh keep unbeaten after semifinal openers

Indian chess stars
Koneru Humpy and
Divya Deshmukh made a strong begin within the semifinals of the FIDE Girls’s World Cup 2025, holding their Chinese language opponents to attracts within the first video games on Tuesday, July 22.

Humpy, enjoying with black items, comfortably held China’s Tingjie Lei to a draw, whereas Divya pissed off former world champion Zhongyi Tan together with her strong defence. Each Indians will now have the benefit of enjoying with white items within the return leg of this fixture.

The second semifinal video games shall be held on Wednesday, July 23. If the scores stay tied after the 2 classical video games, the semifinalists will head to sooner tie-break video games, which shall be held a day later.

The winner of this occasion is slated to get $50,000 (over Rs 43 lakh), whereas the runners-up and third place participant will earn $35,000 (Rs 30 lakh) and $25,000 (Rs 21 lakh), respectively. The highest-three gamers can even qualify for the 2026 FIDE Girls’s Candidates Match.

Humorous second earlier than Humpy vs Tingjie recreation

Humpy was seen meditating earlier than her high-stakes semifinal conflict towards Tingjie. As Lei approached the board, she hesitated and quietly went about her routine as a result of Humpy sat together with her eyes closed, utterly immersed in her ideas.

The scene shortly went viral on social media after FIDE shared it with the caption, “When your opponent is meditating and also you don’t need to disturb the vibe…”

🧘‍♀️ When your opponent is meditating and also you don’t need to disturb the vibe…

FIDE Girls’s World Cup. Semifinal
🇨🇳 Lei Tingjie – Humpy Koneru 🇮🇳#FIDEWorldCup pic.twitter.com/TNOpn7YCz0

— Worldwide Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 22, 2025

Humpy made historical past on Sunday by changing into the primary Indian girl to achieve the semifinals of a FIDE World Cup. The 38-year-old defeated China’s Yuxin Tune 1.5-0.5 within the quarterfinals.

“It feels completely satisfied to qualify with out enjoying tie-breaks,” the Indian Grandmaster stated after the match. “I felt I may have performed significantly better at the moment, I used to be in a significantly better place, however slipped out within the time bother.”

In the meantime, Worldwide Grasp
Divya Deshmukh had earlier surprised everybody by storming into the semifinals on her debut look. She knocked out compatriot and senior Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli within the quarters.

“Very shaky,” she advised FIDE. “I believe I’m pleased with the best way I performed. I don’t assume the final recreation went effectively however, probably not (anxious)…My preparation had numerous position in that recreation and I wish to thank my coach for that.”