Koneru Humpy sets up historic all-Indian Women's World Cup final vs Divya Deshmukh

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy advanced to the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup after defeating China’s Lei Tingjie in a lengthy tiebreak in Georgia on Thursday, setting up an all-Indian final with Divya Deshmukh. With this result, both Humpy and Divya have secured places in the Women’s Candidates Tournament scheduled for next year.

It will be generational battle in the FIDE Women's World Cup Final as 38-year-old Grandmaster Koneru faces teenage prodigy Divya, who won her maiden GM Norm earlier in the tournament, inching closer to becoming only the fourth-ever female Grandmaster from the country.

Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand praised Humpy’s performance, lauding the



veteran's consistency in big-ticket tournaments in the recent past.

“The tiebreak between Humpy Koneru and Lei Tingjie ended in a duel of nerves given the huge stakes involved. Humpy managed to compose herself and come back into the match after the first setback and then won the last two games to go through. Incredible resilience and, after her World Rapid win as well as her shared first place in the Pune Grand Prix, a remarkable World Cup to get another Candidates spot.”

"Indian fans can rejoice," Anand said, highlighting the enormity of the occasion. For the first time, two Indians will compete in the final of the Women's World Cup. The final will get underway on Saturday following a rest day.