The highly anticipated all-Indian final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 between 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh and 38-year-old veteran Koneru Humpy lived up to its billing as a generational showdown, though it ended in a gripping draw after 41 moves in the opening classical game on Saturday. Played in the scenic coastal city of Batumi, Georgia, the match highlighted both strategic brilliance and missed opportunities, particularly for Divya, who held the white pieces.
Despite the draw, Divya may reflect on this game with some regret, having let key chances slip through her fingers. In contrast, Humpy, though under pressure at moments, will likely feel relieved to have emerged unscathed.
The game began with Divya choosing a bold central pawn thrust with 1.d4, a surprising opening from her as she had avoided it throughout the tournament. Humpy responded with 1…d5, and after 2.c4 dxc4, Divya opted for 3.e4, setting the tone with an aggressive central strategy and entering the well-known Queen’s Gambit Accepted line.
Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Kunte, speaking during his commentary on ChessBase India, noted the deeper dynamics of the opening. “Queen’s Gambit Accepted is a common opening when Black wants to play it safe. But White can still generate attacking chances. The key issue now is fatigue. These players have been competing for nearly 25 straight days, so they’re often out of fresh ideas and have to rely on positional understanding rather than deep preparation,” he explained.
As the game progressed, Divya quickly developed her knights and offered a pawn sacrifice, signaling her intent to play for a win. Humpy, however, misjudged the position on move seven with 7…Bb7?, choosing to develop her bishop instead of capturing a pawn—an error that tilted the position slightly in Divya’s favor.
Veteran Indian GM Pravin Thipsay provided insight into Humpy’s early misstep: “Divya showed strong preparation in the opening. Offering a second pawn was a clever strategy. Had Humpy taken it, the game might have reached an equal footing theoretically. But her choice to develop instead of capturing led to a more complex position, giving Divya a small edge,” he said.
Ultimately, neither player could convert their position into a decisive advantage. With one classical game remaining in the final, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion as India’s two top women’s chess players battle for the crown.