Two of them\u2014GM Humpy Koneru and IM Divya Deshmukh\u2014sealed their spots early. Humpy, the reigning World Rapid Champion, overcame former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in a composed performance, navigating a sharp first game and locking in qualification with a solid second draw. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Divya continued her sensational run, defeating GM Zhu Jiner 1.5-0.5 in their rapid tiebreak. Zhu's queen sacrifice in the second game was brave, but Divya\u2019s calm and calculation proved too strong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Harika Dronavalli\u2019s match against GM Kateryna Lagno was a marathon. After losing the first rapid game, Harika bounced back with grit and a little luck\u2014Lagno missed a decisive tactic in game two. From there, Harika clawed her way back, finally breaking through in the fourth game of the tiebreak with a brilliant endgame display.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The longest and most nerve-wracking match of the day was IM Meruert Kamalidenova vs GM Vaishali Rameshbabu. The two traded wins back and forth through rapid, then blitz. It all came down to the second blitz game, where Vaishali, despite being worse at one point, held her nerve and edged through. She admitted later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Harika Dronavalli\u2019s match against GM Kateryna Lagno was a marathon. After losing the first rapid game, Harika bounced back with grit and a little luck\u2014Lagno missed a decisive tactic in game two. From there, Harika clawed her way back, finally breaking through in the fourth game of the tiebreak with a brilliant endgame display.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Scheduled to take place from July 6 to July 28, the 2025 FIDE Women\u2019s World Cup has gathered together in Batumi (Georgia) the world\u2019s best female chess players. A total of 107 players from 46 different federations are set to participate in the event, including seventeen of the current top twenty<\/p>\r\n\r\n