Women's World Cup 2025 Round 2.1: Vantika Agrawal stuns Anna Ushenina

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/07/2025

IM Vantika Agrawal scored a huge win over the 14th Women's World Champion, GM Anna Ushenina (UKR) in Game 1 of Round 2 at FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. GM Koneru Humpy, GM R Vaishali and IM Divya Deshmukh won their respective games comfortably against WIM FI Afruza Khamdamova (UZB), WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) and WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO). WGM Nandhidhaa P V, IM Padmini Rout and WIM Priyanka K drew against GM Harika Dronavalli, 12th Women's World Champion - GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL) respectively. IM Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) scored the biggest upset of the round when she defeated the defending champion, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina. Round 2 Game 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Nandhidhaa, Padmini and Priyanka draw against Harika, Kosteniuk and Klaudia

Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agrawal need a draw to advance to Round 3. Harika Dronavalli, Nandhidhaa P V, Padmini Rout and Priyanka K need a win to secure their place in the next round. All eight Indians scored either a win or draw in Round 2.1, none of them lost.

Afruza - Humpy: 0-1

WIM FI Afruza Khamdamova (UZB, 2326) faced GM Koneru Humpy (2536) for the first time in a rated game.

Position after 32...Bxc5

White blundered 33.Bb8?? Bxa3-+ and the passed a-pawn became the deciding factor in Black earning the victory. 33.Be3 Bxe3 34.fxe3 Rxe3 35.Rb4+ would have kept the game going.

A blunder in the endgame cost WIM FI Afruza Khamdamova (UZB) dearly against GM Koneru Humpy | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Nandhidhaa - Harika: 0.5-0.5

The only rated game between WGM Nandhidhaa P V (2330) and GM Harika Dronavalli (2488) occurred over 13 years ago at National Team Championship in 2012. Harika won that battle. This time they had a 123-move long grueling draw.

WGM Nandhidhaa P V had a 123-move long grueling draw against GM Harika Dronavalli | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Vaishali - Maili: 1-0

This was the first-ever rated game between GM R Vaishali (2478) and WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN, 2350).

Position after 15.d4

15...Nh5 16.dxe5 Ng3+ would have been a better continuation for Black. 15...Nxe4 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Kh2 Rd8 18.Qe1 f5 19.b3 0-0 20.Bb2 Ng3 the delayed capture of the rook, making it two minor pieces for a rook did not help Black.

Interview with GM R Vaishali | Video: FIDE

GM R Vaishali defeated WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) comfortably | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Kosteniuk - Padmini: 0.5-0.5

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2474) battled IM Padmini Rout (2352) for the first time in a Classical rated game. It was a solid draw.

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) - IM Padmini Rout: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Divya - Kesaria: 1-0

IM Divya Deshmukh (2463) got the better of 14-year-old Georgian prodigy, WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (2226). The teenager managed to trap her own knight.

IM Divya Deshmukh made a winning start | Photo: FIDE/Andrei Anosov

Vantika - Anna Ushenina: 1-0

IM Vantika Agrawal (2377) played only Rapid and Blitz rated games against the 14th Women's World Champion, GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2413). This was their first Classical rated game against each other.

Position after 30.Rc1

30...Nd3? 31.Rxc8++- Qxc8 32.Qe7 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 Nxf2 34.Qd8+ Kg7 35.Ne6+ fxe6 36.Qc7+ and it's over. 30...Ne4 would have been fine for Black.

Interview with IM Vantika Agrawal | Video: FIDE

Klaudia - Priyanka: 0.5-0.5

IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2406) had a well contested draw against WIM Priyanka K (2090).

Final moments: IM Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) - GM Aleksandra Goryachkina | Video: FIDE

Interview with IM Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) | Video: FIDE

IM Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) scored the biggest upset of the day as she defeated the defending champion, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

The top two boards of Round 2 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

GM R Vaishali's mother - Nagalakshmi spectates the games | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Round 2.1 results

WGM Nandhidhaa P V - GM Harika Dronavalli: 0.5-0.5

GM R Vaishali - WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN): 1-0

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) - IM Padmini Rout: 0.5-0.5

IM Divya Deshmukh - WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO): 1-0

IM Vantika Agrawal - GM Anna Ushenina (UKR): 1-0

IM Klaudia Kulon (POL) - WIM Priyanka K: 0.5-0.5

WIM FI Afruza Khamdamova (UZB) - GM Koneru Humpy: 0-1

Details

Watch Round 2.1 live stream

Watch Round 2.1 live commentary by IM Almira Skripchenko (FRA) and GM Valeriane Gaprindashvili (GEO) | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 2.1 games

Prizes

The total prize fund is US$ 691250 which will be distributed among 107 players. The top three prizes are $50000, 35000 and 25000.

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

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