Women's World Cup 2025 Round 2.2: Humpy, Harika, Vaishali and Divya through to Round 3

by Shahid Ahmed - 11/07/2025

GM Koneru Humpy, GM Harika Dronavalli, GM R Vaishali and IM Divya Deshmukh have secured their place in the third round of FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. Humpy and Divya drew their respective game as it was enough to win the match. Harika defeated compatriot WGM Nandhidhaa P V to advance to the next round. Thus, Nandhidhaa got eliminated. Vaishali defeated WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN). She is one of the nine women to win both of her games. IM Padmini Rout, IM Vantika Agrawal and WIM Priyanka K will have to play tie-breaks against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI), GM Anna Ushenina (UKR) and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL) today. Round 2 Tie-break games start today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Padmini, Vantika and Priyanka to play tie-breaks, Nandhidhaa gets eliminated

GM Harika Dronavalli, GM R Vaishali and IM Divya Deshmukh will face IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE), IM Carissa Yip (USA) and IM Teodora Injac (SRB) respectively in Round 3. GM Koneru Humpy will battle the winner of the match between WIM Priyanka K and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL). The defending champion, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina bounced back with a victory against IM Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ). It means they will play tie-break games today.

Humpy - Afruza: 0.5-0.5

GM Koneru Humpy (2536) drew against WIM FI Afruza Khamdamova (UZB, 2326) as it was enough for her to advance to Round 3. She will face the winner of WIM Priyanka K and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL).

The defending champion, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina observes GM Koneru Humpy and WIM Afruza Khamdamova's (UZB) game | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Harika - Nandhidhaa

Position after 27.Rdh1

WGM Nandhidhaa P V (2343) needed to create an escape route for the king immediately 27...f5. Instead, she tried to hold on to her extra knight 27...Ng6?? 28.f5+- Bd6 29.Be4! and it became just a matter of time before GM Harika Dronavalli (2483) won the game. This win earned her a place in the third round where she will face IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE).

Interview and game analysis with GM Harika Dronavalli | Video: FIDE

GM Harika Dronavalli defeated and eliminated WGM Nandhidhaa P V to advance to Round 3 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Maili - Vaishali: 0-1

WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN, 2350) exchanged a piece for GM R Vaishali's (2478) three pawns.

Position after 30...Ne3

31.g4? was unnecessary Nf4 32.Kh2 Nd1 33.Bf6 Rd3 34.Rf1 Ne3 35.Rb1? Nc4-+ 36.Rd8 Rxd8 37.Bxd8 Kg7 38.Bg5 Nd2 39.Bxf4 Nxb1 and Black won. Vaishali used her knights beautifully to win the game and set up a clash with IM Carissa Yip (USA) in Round 3.

GM R Vaishali won both games against WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Padmini - Kosteniuk: 0.5-0.5

IM Padmini Rout (2352) made a quick eleven-move draw against the 12th Women's World Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2474). Tie-breaks will determine the winner between them.

Tie-breaks will determine the winner of the match between IM Padmini Rout and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Kesaria - Divya: 0.5-0.5

IM Divya Deshmukh (2463) drew her game by forcing a perpetual check against the Georgian teenager, WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (2226) as a draw was enough for her to win the match. Divya will face the new European Individual Women's champion, IM Teodora Injac (SRB, 2457).

IM Divya Deshmukh won her match against WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO) | Photo: FIDE/Andrei Anosov

Anna Ushenina - Vantika: 1-0

IM Vantika Agrawal (2377) did not push her queenside pawns as fast as she could, allowing her opponent, GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2413) to run her own on the kingside.

Position after 33.Rxh6

It was a pawn race. So Black needed to play 33...a5 right away. Bringing her king to stop the h-pawn was not possible. 33...Bd4?? 34.h4 and White kept pushing her h-pawn which was the decisive factor in her earning the full point. Vantika will have to play tie-breaks against the 14th Women's World Champion.

Klaudia - Priyanka: 0.5-0.5

WIM Priyanka K (2090) played a solid draw against IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2406). They will play tie-breaks.

Giorgi Murvanidze, Mayor of Batumi, made the ceremonial first of Round 2.2 on WGM Francisco Guecamburu Candela Be (ARG) and GM Tingjie Lei's (CHN) board| Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Round 2.2 games in progress | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Round 2 results

GM Koneru Humpy - WIM FI Afruza Khamdamova (UZB): 1.5-0.5

GM Harika Dronavalli - WGM Nandhidhaa P V: 1.5-0.5

WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet - GM R Vaishali: 0-2

IM Padmini Rout - GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI): 1-1

WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO) - IM Divya Deshmukh: 0.5-1.5

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

WIM Priyanka K - IM Klaudia Kulon (POL): 1-1

Details

Round 3 pairings

GM Koneru Humpy - WIM Priyanka Kl / IM Klaudia Kulon (POL)

IM Divya Deshmukh - IM Teodora Injac (SRB)

GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE)

GM R Vaishali - IM Carissa Yip (USA)

Details

Watch Round 2.2 live stream

Watch Round 2.2 live commentary by IM Almira Skripchenko (FRA) and GM Valeriane Gaprindashvili (GEO) | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 2.2 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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