Four Indians Reach FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup Pre-Quarters in Batumi

Indian chess grandmasters Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh have all advanced to the fourth round (pre-quarterfinals) of the 2025 FIDE Women's Chess World Cup held in Batumi, Georgia, showcasing a strong Indian presence in the tournament. Vaishali and Harika progressed after winning tense tie-break matches, with Vaishali notably defeating Carissa Yip of the USA and Harika overcoming Stavroula Tsolakidou of Greece. Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy also secured victories against their opponents and are set to face tough competitors in the next round, including Alexandra Kosteniuk and Zhu Jiner. The tournament is significant as the top three finishers will earn spots in the next year’s Candidates Tournament, increasing the stakes for the Indian players. Meanwhile, Indian IM Vantika Agrawal was eliminated in the third round by Kateryna Lagno after a closely contested tie-break. The strong performances highlight India's growing impact in international women's chess and keep hopes high for a deep run in the competition.