Koneru Humpy vs Divya Deshmukh, FIDE Women’s World Cup Final: Preview, Schedule, Format, Live Streaming info

Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh will meet in an all-Indian final at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, marking India’s best-ever performance at the event. It’s a generational clash: Humpy, 38, is a Grand Master and reigning World Rapid Champion; Divya, 19, is a rising star and Junior World Champion. Both have secured spots in the 2026 Candidates, the qualifier to challenge China’s Ju Wenjun for the World Championship.

Finals schedule

Game 1 – July 26, 4:45 pm IST

Game 2 – July 27, 4:45 pm IST

Tiebreaks (if needed) – July 28, 4:35 pm IST

Streaming info

The FIDE Women’s World Cup Final will be streamed live on FIDE’s YouTube channel.

Format

The finalists will play two classical games – one on Saturday and another on Sunday. A win awards one point while both players get 0.5 point each in case of a draw.

If the two players cannot be separated after two classical games, the winner will be decided via tiebreaks.

Tiebreak format:

• Two-game match – 10 minutes for each player with a 10-second increment, starting from the first move.
• Two-game match – Five minutes for each player with a three-second increment, starting from the first move.
• Two-game match – Three minutes for each player with a two-second increment, starting from the first move.
• Players keep contesting 3+2 games until a decisive result determines the match winner

Route to final

Koneru Humpy (Rating – 2543)

Semifinal: Beat China’s Lei Tingjie (2552) 5-3

Quarterfinal: Beat China’s Yuxin Song (2410) 1.5-0.5

Round 4: Beat Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk (2474) 2.5-0.5

Round 3: Beat Poland’s Klaudia Kulon (2407) 1.5-0.5

Round 2: Beat Uzbekistan’s Afruza Khamdamova (2326) 1.5-0.5

Round 1: Bye

Divya Deshmukh (2463)

Semifinal: Beat China’s Tan Zhongyi (2546) 1.5-0.5

Quarterfinal: Beat India’s Harika Dronavalli (2483) 3-1

Round 4: Beat China’s Zhu Jiner (2547) 2.5-1.5

Round 3: Beat Serbia’s Teodora Injac (2457) 1.5-0.5

Round 2: Beat Georgia’s Kesaria Mgeladze (2226) 1.5-0.5

Round 1: Bye