The first game of the FIDE Women’s World Cup final between 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh and 38-year-old Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy ended in a tense draw on Saturday in Batumi, Georgia.
But it was the emotion on Divya’s face at the end, hands covering her disappointment, that told the real story of a missed opportunity.
Watch:
Making her debut in a major final, Divya came in with bold intent.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Playing with the white pieces, she surprised many by opening with 1.d4, a move she hadn't played all tournament. It was a clear sign of targeted preparation.
For the first hour, the young International Master (IM) held a clear edge, pushing Humpy onto the back foot with sharp, aggressive moves.
But as the clock ticked and pressure mounted, Divya began using significant time for key decisions. The advantage slowly began to slip away.
Humpy, ever composed, showed why she’s long been India’s top female player. She neutralised the pressure with precise calculation and calm defence, turning the tables slowly without ever forcing the issue.
ALSO READ: Women’s Chess World Cup Final: Divya Deshmukh lets advantage slip, holds Koneru Humpy to hard-fought draw in Game 1
The endgame turned into a psychological battle.
Humpy began repeating queen checks, probing for weakness, perhaps even offering a silent draw. But Divya declined, pushing on in search of a decisive result. Her ambition was evident, but so was her fatigue.
Eventually, neither player found a breakthrough. After 41 intense moves, the game concluded in a draw through repetition, a fitting result for a match that swung both ways but never fully tipped.
For Divya, the disappointment was visible, not from the result itself, but perhaps from knowing she had a chance to land a crucial early blow. Game 2 will see Humpy take the white pieces.
With one more classical game left, and possible tiebreaks after that, this final between experience and youth is just getting started.
But it was the emotion on Divya’s face at the end, hands covering her disappointment, that told the real story of a missed opportunity.
Watch:
Game 1 of the Final between 🇮🇳 Divya Deshmukh and 🇮🇳 Humpy Koneru ends in a draw! #FIDEWorldCup pic.twitter.com/qa8y5FmoH1
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 26, 2025
Making her debut in a major final, Divya came in with bold intent.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Playing with the white pieces, she surprised many by opening with 1.d4, a move she hadn't played all tournament. It was a clear sign of targeted preparation.
For the first hour, the young International Master (IM) held a clear edge, pushing Humpy onto the back foot with sharp, aggressive moves.
But as the clock ticked and pressure mounted, Divya began using significant time for key decisions. The advantage slowly began to slip away.
Humpy, ever composed, showed why she’s long been India’s top female player. She neutralised the pressure with precise calculation and calm defence, turning the tables slowly without ever forcing the issue.
ALSO READ: Women’s Chess World Cup Final: Divya Deshmukh lets advantage slip, holds Koneru Humpy to hard-fought draw in Game 1
The endgame turned into a psychological battle.
Humpy began repeating queen checks, probing for weakness, perhaps even offering a silent draw. But Divya declined, pushing on in search of a decisive result. Her ambition was evident, but so was her fatigue.
Eventually, neither player found a breakthrough. After 41 intense moves, the game concluded in a draw through repetition, a fitting result for a match that swung both ways but never fully tipped.
For Divya, the disappointment was visible, not from the result itself, but perhaps from knowing she had a chance to land a crucial early blow. Game 2 will see Humpy take the white pieces.
With one more classical game left, and possible tiebreaks after that, this final between experience and youth is just getting started.
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