Triumphant Triumph: FIDE CEO Praises Indian Stars for Remarkable Quarterfinal Success in Women’s World Cup
In a remarkable achievement for Indian chess, all four remaining contenders-Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, R Vaishali, and International Master Divya Deshmukh-have advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky celebrated this milestone on social media platform X, stating, “All four Indian players make it through tie-breaks. Quite a feat! Congrats to Humpy, Divya, Harika, and Vaishali!” He also acknowledged the commendable efforts of Zhu Jiner, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno, and Meruert Kamalidenova who, despite their strong performances, fell short of progressing.
The journey to this historic moment was fraught with tension, as all four Indian players faced formidable challenges in the pre-quarterfinals. Each match culminated in nail-biting tie-breaks, following drawn classical games. Koneru Humpy demonstrated her prowess by overcoming former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, while Dronavalli Harika secured her spot with a hard-fought victory against Kateryna Lagno. Meanwhile, R Vaishali showcased her rising star status by defeating Kazakhstan’s Meruert Kamalidenova. Young talent Divya Deshmukh also excelled, recovering from an earlier setback against Zhu Jiner to claim her place among the elite.
Earlier in the tournament, Divya initially appeared to be India’s best hope for direct qualification, having won her first game. However, a crucial error during the middlegame of her second match forced her into rapid tie-breaks. Demonstrating remarkable poise, she bounced back to maintain India’s perfect record in the event.
On the other side of the tournament, three Chinese players-Lei Tingjie, Song Yuxin, and Tan Zhongyi-advanced smoothly to the quarterfinals. Additionally, Georgian veteran Nana Dzagnidze stunned former world champion Mariya Muzychuk, marking a significant upset in the tournament.
The FIDE Women’s World Cup is a prestigious knockout event with a total prize fund of $691,250, where the winner will receive $50,000. Beyond the financial incentives, three coveted spots in the Women’s Candidates Tournament, which leads to a World Championship challenge, are also at stake. With four representatives from India now among the final eight, this edition of the tournament underscores a pivotal moment in Indian chess history, illustrating the country’s growing stature on the global stage.
As the competition progresses, fans eagerly await to see how these talented players harness their skills and experience to vie for supremacy in the chess world.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/chess/chess-quite-a-feat-fide-ceo-lauds-indian-stars-after-all-four-enter-quarterfinals-of-womens-world-cup/articleshow/122769667.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-07-18 23:03:00
