FIDE Women’s World Cup: India Makes History with Four Players Advancing to Quarterfinals

In a historic achievement, Indian chess players Koneru Humpy, D Harika, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh have advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIDE World Women's Chess Cup. This marks the first time a single country has had four players reach this stage of the tournament. Each player secured their spot by winning their respective tiebreak matches.

Humpy displayed her classic form by defeating Alexandra Kosteniuk, who now represents Switzerland after switching from Russia. Humpy's victory in the first round with a 1.5-0.5 score highlighted her dominance over her competitors.

Indian Players Shine in Tiebreaks

Divya Deshmukh continued to impress by overcoming China's second seed, Jiner Zhu, with a 1.5-0.5 score. She won the first game playing black and managed a draw in the return leg with white, demonstrating maturity beyond her years.

D Harika faced a challenging start, losing her first game as black against Russia's Kateryna Lagno. However, she bounced back as white to force a second tiebreaker. Harika then drew her first game as black and capitalised on her chances with white to secure her place in the quarterfinals.

India vs China: A Race for the Cup

With all four Indian women advancing to the quarterfinals, the competition has intensified between India and China for the Cup. The top three finishers will earn spots in the women's Candidates tournament.

Meanwhile, Georgia's Nana Dzagnidze also reached the quarterfinals with impressive performances throughout the tournament. Her presence adds another layer of competition as players vie for top positions.

The success of these Indian players highlights their skill and determination on an international stage. Their achievements have set a new benchmark for future participants in this prestigious event.

With inputs from PTI