<p>What a win-win situation for India with Koneru Humpy battling it out with Divya for the top two positions in the final of the Women’s Chess World Cup at Batumi, Georgia! The strong knock-out event which started with 107 qualified women players across the globe has trickled down to just two Indians -- 38-year-old Koneru Humpy and 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh in a historical and unprecedented record of both players from the same country -- contesting for the top honours.</p>.<p>The final will comprise of two Classical games scheduled this Saturday and Sunday with tie-breaks, if any, to be resolved on Monday in shorter versions of the game: Rapid and Blitz followed by Armageddon. Incidentally, both Humpy and Divya have qualified for the eight-player Candidates tournament in 2026 (top three from this event qualify) where the winner will take on the reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun for the title.</p>.<p>What makes it more commendable is the fact that Humpy was seeded fourth and Divya 15th amongst the 107 in the fray, a crystal-clear indication that both punched above their weight during the entire event. </p>.<p>Humpy’s best knock-out punch was the closely contested semifinal against top seed Lei Tingjie, on Thursday night while Divya dazzled with power packed performances, knocking down former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi in the semis, compatriot Dronavalli Harika, the 10th seed, in the quarterfinal and second seed Zhu Jiner in the pre-quarters.</p>.<p>Humpy is the rating favourite and her extensive experience could well be her best weapon here while Divya’s dashing style and her cool composure could well prove to be her best assets. Both these players clashed recently in April 2025 at the FIDE Grand Prix leg in Pune with Humpy defeating Divya with the white pieces in the third round. Humpy had eventually emerged Champion and Divya had finished third in that tournament.</p>.Who is Divya Deshmukh, the first Indian to reach Women’s World Chess Cup final?.<p>GM Humpy was only the second woman in the history of the game after Judit Polgar to cross the Elo 2600 barrier, clocking her (2623) best rating in 2009. In fact, in 2002, Humpy was the first Indian woman and the youngest ever woman in the World to earn the GM title when International Master Divya wasn’t even born. </p>.<p>Humpy, except the title of World Champion and World Cup winner, has won virtually each and every title possible. A sabbatical from Chess after the birth of her daughter cost Humpy precious Elo points and a few years but she came back stronger by winning two Rapid World titles.</p>.<p>Divya on the other hand has been a late starter by Humpy’s standards but has had superlative performances in the last couple of years and was also a member of the Olympic Gold Medal winning Indian team in 2024. There were not many takers for her in this tournament but the ease with which she knocked out fancied opponents makes her a dangerous opponent who has nothing to lose but everything to gain.</p>.<p>The fact that both players have attractive and aggressive playing styles, promises an exhilarating contest. Divya has more to earn as a winner, the GM title coming complimentary with the Cup.</p>.<p>Quite clearly the final is a match between the Queen and Princess of Indian chess! Either way, it’s an emphatic victory for Indian chess!</p>.<p>Highlights - SCHEDULE July 26: Classical game 1 July 27: Classical game 2 July 28: Tie-break (If needed) </p>
<p>What a win-win situation for India with Koneru Humpy battling it out with Divya for the top two positions in the final of the Women’s Chess World Cup at Batumi, Georgia! The strong knock-out event which started with 107 qualified women players across the globe has trickled down to just two Indians -- 38-year-old Koneru Humpy and 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh in a historical and unprecedented record of both players from the same country -- contesting for the top honours.</p>.<p>The final will comprise of two Classical games scheduled this Saturday and Sunday with tie-breaks, if any, to be resolved on Monday in shorter versions of the game: Rapid and Blitz followed by Armageddon. Incidentally, both Humpy and Divya have qualified for the eight-player Candidates tournament in 2026 (top three from this event qualify) where the winner will take on the reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun for the title.</p>.<p>What makes it more commendable is the fact that Humpy was seeded fourth and Divya 15th amongst the 107 in the fray, a crystal-clear indication that both punched above their weight during the entire event. </p>.<p>Humpy’s best knock-out punch was the closely contested semifinal against top seed Lei Tingjie, on Thursday night while Divya dazzled with power packed performances, knocking down former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi in the semis, compatriot Dronavalli Harika, the 10th seed, in the quarterfinal and second seed Zhu Jiner in the pre-quarters.</p>.<p>Humpy is the rating favourite and her extensive experience could well be her best weapon here while Divya’s dashing style and her cool composure could well prove to be her best assets. Both these players clashed recently in April 2025 at the FIDE Grand Prix leg in Pune with Humpy defeating Divya with the white pieces in the third round. Humpy had eventually emerged Champion and Divya had finished third in that tournament.</p>.Who is Divya Deshmukh, the first Indian to reach Women’s World Chess Cup final?.<p>GM Humpy was only the second woman in the history of the game after Judit Polgar to cross the Elo 2600 barrier, clocking her (2623) best rating in 2009. In fact, in 2002, Humpy was the first Indian woman and the youngest ever woman in the World to earn the GM title when International Master Divya wasn’t even born. </p>.<p>Humpy, except the title of World Champion and World Cup winner, has won virtually each and every title possible. A sabbatical from Chess after the birth of her daughter cost Humpy precious Elo points and a few years but she came back stronger by winning two Rapid World titles.</p>.<p>Divya on the other hand has been a late starter by Humpy’s standards but has had superlative performances in the last couple of years and was also a member of the Olympic Gold Medal winning Indian team in 2024. There were not many takers for her in this tournament but the ease with which she knocked out fancied opponents makes her a dangerous opponent who has nothing to lose but everything to gain.</p>.<p>The fact that both players have attractive and aggressive playing styles, promises an exhilarating contest. Divya has more to earn as a winner, the GM title coming complimentary with the Cup.</p>.<p>Quite clearly the final is a match between the Queen and Princess of Indian chess! Either way, it’s an emphatic victory for Indian chess!</p>.<p>Highlights - SCHEDULE July 26: Classical game 1 July 27: Classical game 2 July 28: Tie-break (If needed) </p>