FIDE Women's World Cup Final 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: Koneru-Divya game 2 ends in draw; tie breaker on Mon
Koneru vs Divya Women's Chess World Cup Final 2025 highlights: Both finalists are tied with one point each after two regular games and will now face each other in a tie-breaker round
Koneru vs Divya Women's Chess World Cup Final 2025 game 2 highlights
The FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 Final in Batumi has proven a battle of nerves, with India's legendary GM Koneru Humpy and rising star IM Divya Deshmukh locked in a tense all-Indian clash for the $50,000 champion's prize and a spot in the Candidates tournament.
Game 2 Summary
Game 2 was a high-stakes affair, played with Humpy commanding the White pieces. After their first classical game ended in a combative draw, both players entered the second match with everything on the line and nerves on full display. The opening phase saw Humpy opt for a conservative approach, prioritizing strong central control and safe development. Early exchanges—both pawns and minor pieces—quickly led to a simplified middlegame, keeping tension high but the risks low.
By move 18, the major pieces had largely been exchanged, and the position remained balanced. Humpy’s experience showed in her calm maneuvering, but Divya remained solid under pressure, never allowing a clear edge. Fans and analysts alike noted the psychological battle; neither side wished to overreach and risk a fatal error at this stage.
The rest of the game played out with meticulously accurate moves from both Indians. Ultimately, neither could generate sufficient winning chances or create lasting imbalances. The game ended in a draw by repetition, leaving the match deadlocked at 1–1 after the two classical encounters.
Final To Be Decided in Tie-Breaks on Monday
With both classical games drawn, the World Cup winner will be determined by a tie-break on Monday, July 28. The match remains delicately poised, promising a dramatic finish between India's present and future chess queens.
Tie-Break Rules Explained
The FIDE Women's World Cup tie-breaks will proceed as follows:
- First rapid tie-break: Two games, each with 15 minutes for each player plus a 10-second increment per move.
- If still tied: Two rapid games with 10 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move.
- If still tied: Two blitz games with 5 minutes plus a 3-second increment per move.
- If still tied: Single “armageddon” blitz games with 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move, alternating colors, until a decisive result is reached.
8:01 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: And its a draw
The game 2 of the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final 2025 also ends in a drraw as both finlaits arre now level on 1-1. This means will will have one extrra day of action on Monday with the tie beaker round.
7:53 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Draw on cards
Divya has shifted her queen from g5 to d4, directly targeting Humpy’s active bishop. That bishop on d4 had been anchoring White’s pressure, and removing it could ease Black’s defensive task. This exchange offer indicates that Divya is steering the game towards simplification. With material getting balanced and queens potentially coming off soon, we might indeed be heading toward a draw—unless one of them finds a sharp continuation.
7:34 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Game after 27 moves
After 27 moves, the game remains tense. Humpy (White) has placed her queen on b8 and controls space with her bishop on d4, while Divya (Black) is relying on defense, with her queen actively positioned on g5. Black's knight on d8 and passed pawn on e4 pose potential threats, but White's coordination looks stronger. The position is dynamic, but Humpy may hold a slight edge due to better piece activity and control.
7:07 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Divya on defence
Divya has just played a solid defensive move, pushing her g7 pawn to g6 to guard against back-rank threats and limit Humpy’s attacking ideas. However, Humpy immediately responded with an aggressive check from c8, using her queen to keep the pressure on. It's now a critical moment for Divya—she must calculate precisely to neutralize the check without giving up positional ground. The tension is mounting as both players eye a decisive breakthrough.
6:51 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Game after 23 moves
After 23 moves, the game between Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh remains tense. Humpy’s queen stands on g4, applying pressure, but Divya has an active queen on d5 and a dangerous passed pawn on e4. Both sides have chances—White holds positional threats, while Black has better activity and central control. The outcome could go either way, but if Humpy neutralizes the e4 pawn, she might push for a draw or even a win.
6:40 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Bold move from Humpy
Koneru Humpy has just made a bold strategic decision, retreating her queen from f5 to f4 instead of opting for a queen trade. This move signals her intent to keep pressing and play for a win. Despite being significantly down on time—35 minutes versus Divya Deshmukh’s one hour—Humpy is showing optimism and confidence in her position. It’s a crucial moment that could shape the final outcome of this gripping battle.
6:27 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Game as of now
After 22 moves in Game 2 of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup final, Koneru Humpy (White) holds a clear initiative. Her queen on f5 and bishops on c3 and f3 are aggressively placed, eyeing weaknesses around Black’s king. Divya Deshmukh (Black) defends with her queen and knights, but her position is passive. With better piece activity and central control, Humpy is pressing, and Divya must defend carefully to stay in the game.
6:11 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Situation after 19 moves
The game between Koneru Humpy (White) and Divya Deshmukh (Black) has progressed into a tense middle game phase, now past 19 moves. With both rooks exchanged off the board, the position is transitioning into a simplified structure — but the battle remains far from over.
Humpy has continued to hold a firm grip on the center, with pawns solidly placed on d4 and e3. Her bishops on c3 and f3 remain actively positioned, controlling diagonals and keeping Black’s knights in check.
Divya, playing with the Black pieces, has just brought her queen to e8 — a passive, but safe square. Her knights on c6 and f6 look stable but still lack immediate outposts. Meanwhile, the pawn structure is symmetrical on both flanks, giving no player a clear breakthrough yet.
Though the material is equal and the board is simplified, Humpy retains a slight spatial advantage thanks to central control. Strategic maneuvering, accurate bishop use, and potential queen infiltration will now be key for both players in this evenly poised contest.
5:55 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Situation after 18 moves
As things stand in the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup final between Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh, the game has entered a balanced middle game after 18 moves. Both players have completed development and castled kingside. Humpy, playing White, has established a strong central presence with her pawns on d4 and e3 and both rooks well connected on e1 and c1. Her bishops on c3 and f3 are actively placed, especially the light-squared bishop that eyes key diagonals. Divya, with Black, has mirrored the setup well, placing her queen on d7 and keeping her knights on c6 and f6. The pawn move h6 prevents any potential Bg5 pin from White. So far, neither side has launched a concrete attack, but the position is rich with strategic possibilities, with Humpy having a slight initiative due to her central control and piece activity.
5:42 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Game after 15 moves
Both players have completed their development and castled kingside. The queens are off their starting ranks and centralized—White's queen sits solidly on d3, while Black's queen holds the d7 post.
White (Humpy) has both bishops harmoniously placed on c3 and f3, creating long-range pressure. Meanwhile, Black (Divya) has placed her knights on active central squares (c6 and f6) and connected her rooks.
Both sides are well-positioned, with no clear weaknesses. The pawn structure is symmetrical around the center, and both players are likely preparing for maneuvering battles in the middlegame.
5:28 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Double castle
After a series of central exchanges, both players have castled kingside, bringing safety to their monarchs. Koneru Humpy has developed an active setup with her bishops on c3 and f3, eyeing critical diagonals. Divya Deshmukh has placed both knights centrally, and her king remains in the center, hinting at a possible delayed castle.
The game remains balanced but tense, with strategic tension building around the d4-d5 structure. Humpy appears slightly more comfortable in development, but it’s still anyone’s game.
5:19 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Pawns traded
The opening phase has transitioned into a structured but tense middle game. After early central skirmishes, both players traded pawns in the center with cxd5 exd5.
Humpy then struck with d4, aiming for central space before her knight on f3 could be pinned by Divya’s bishop on g4.
The current setup reflects a classic battle of structure and initiative — White aims for stable central control, while Black looks for dynamic piece play. The tension on the kingside is slowly building.
5:06 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Game after 8 maoves
It’s a fascinating Queen’s Pawn Game underway as Koneru Humpy (White) and Divya Deshmukh (Black) navigate through a tense opening phase. With both players castling still pending, the center is heating up.
After 8 moves, the board stands:
- Nf3 d5
- e3 Nf6
- c4 e6
- Nc3 a6
- b3 c5
- Bb2 Nc6
- cxd5 exd5
- d4
White is playing for long-term pressure with a solid queenside fianchetto setup. Black has countered actively in the center with ...c5 and ...d5, hinting at a dynamic symmetrical structure. The pawn chains and open c-file may become critical soon.
4:56 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Classice open in the match by Humpy
India’s two finest minds, Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh, are locked in battle in the highly anticipated final of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. Humpy, with White, opened with 1. Nf3, and the game has transitioned into a flexible setup with both players cautiously developing their pieces. The moves so far:
Nf3 d5
e3 Nf6
c4 e6
Nc3
A classic Queen’s Pawn opening is unfolding, with both players eyeing central control. Stay tuned for further updates as the strategy deepens and the tension builds.
4:43 PM
FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE UPDATES Game 2: Action underway
The 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup final game 2 between India's Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh is now underway.
Topics : World Chess Championship CHESS
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First Published: Jul 27 2025 | 4:01 PM IST
