Koneru Humpy vs Divya Deshmukh, Women’s Chess World Cup Final Live: India guaranteed gold, but who will wear the crown?
This all-Indian final marks a landmark moment, underlining the country’s growing influence in global women’s chess.
Veteran Grandmaster (GM) Humpy, 38, reached the final after a hard-fought semifinal against China’s top seed Tingjie Lei, winning in the rapid tiebreaks.
Humpy has had a remarkable year, including winning the World Women’s Rapid Championship and sharing first place at the Women’s Grand Prix. Her experience and resilience were on full display in her comeback semifinal win.
Facing her is 19-year-old International Master Divya Deshmukh, who has delivered a sensational run in the tournament, defeating three top-ten seeds, including Jiner Zhu, D Harika, and former world champion Zhongyi Tan.
After reaching the final, Deshmukh acknowledged the intensity of her matches, saying she had been “anxious” but fought through to make history.
The final takes place over two days (July 26–27) in classical format, with a potential tiebreaker on July 28. The time controls follow standard FIDE regulations, and in case of a draw, rapid and blitz games will decide the winner.
Beyond the title, both players have already secured spots in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. The winner will receive $50,000 (Rs 41.6 lakh), while the runner-up will take home $35,000 (Rs 29.1 lakh).
As two generations of Indian chess clash in the final, the outcome—regardless of who wins—will be a monumental victory for the sport in India.
