Deshmukh tops Zhu, Vaishali pulls through @ Women’s World Cup Chess
The final eight players are determined for the 2025 Women’s Chess World Cup. Three of the top four seeds (Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, Humpy Koneru) have survived, but the fourth has fallen, as IM Divya Deshmukh takes down Zhu Jiner in tiebreaks.
Zhu responded to a game one loss with a win in round two to force the tiebreaks. Deshmukh countered herself with a win in the first rapid game – yet another tricky rook endgame – and then held a draw without too much tension to clinch.
Humpy Koneru also won in the first set of tiebreaks against Alexandra Kosteniuk, 1.5-0.5, while Harika Dronavalli beat Kateryna Lagno 3.5-2.5. There was one other tiebreak, a marathon between Vaishali Rameshbabu and IM Meruert Kamalidenova. Both players landed blows, splitting three straight two-game matches, and drawing game seven to set up a final 5-minute game where winning would mean winning the match for either player.
The game was as much of a roller coaster as the rest of the match. But it culminated with Kamalidenova, as Black, playing 56. …Rxc1??. She would have to play 56. …Rb2! to hold the balance, with the amazing threat of 57. …Re2!!, which can’t be taken because of …Qg2# and so drives the queen away from the defence of the kingside, leading to tactics like …Nxh3 with a discovered attack on the rook on c1.
56. …Rxc1?? 57. Qxc1, however, left Black with no dynamic potential, and White converted quickly with the extra queenside pawns.
Lei, Tan, Nana Dzagnidze, and IM Yuxin Song won their matches in classical, so the next round is as follows:
(1) Lei Tingjie vs. (8) Nana Dzagnidze
(3) Tan Zhongyi vs. (11) Vaishali Rameshbabu
(4) Humpy Koneru vs. (28) Yuxin Song
(10) Harika Dronavalli vs. (15) Divya Deshmukh
The quarterfinals begin Saturday at 11:15 a.m. UTC. Follow along on Lichess.
Photo by Anna Shtourman / FIDE
