- Vantika Agrawal stuns former world rapid champion Kateryna Lagno with a bold tactical display.
- Divya Deshmukh defeats Teodora Injac in a clean endgame finish with black pieces.
- Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali draw their games and face must-win return matches.
Vantika Agrawal showcased remarkable tactical sharpness to defeat the seasoned Russian Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno in the third round of the FIDE Women’s World Cup.
In a separate encounter, Divya Deshmukh outclassed Serbian IM Teodora Injac in a well-balanced game that tilted in the endgame phase.
Rising Stars Vantika and Divya Blaze Ahead in FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup
Vantika’s confidence and ability to handle high-pressure scenarios reflect her rapid evolution as a Grandmaster. Despite facing a decorated opponent, she took the initiative early and never relinquished control. Her decision to embrace complications in a balanced position shows a mindset geared toward winning rather than settling for safety.
Divya’s rise in international chess continues with a measured and mature win. Her ability to convert a seemingly equal position into a victory underscores her endgame strength and mental discipline. Injac failed to find the right continuations, and Divya took advantage without missing a beat. With this momentum, she now stands just one draw away from the last 16.
Among the tournament favorites, Lei Tingjie of China made her presence felt by defeating Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Stefanova. With this win, Lei moves closer to reaffirming her top-seed status. Zhu Jiner, another Chinese contender, also secured a strong victory over Poland’s Aleksandra Maltsveskaya, tightening China’s grip on the event.
For India, the remaining games are critical. Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli, both experienced campaigners, must find breakthroughs in their next outings to avoid the unpredictability of rapid tiebreaks. Similarly, R Vaishali will need to push harder in her rematch against Carissa Yip to progress. The pressure now shifts to consistency under must-win conditions.
India’s young guns have seized the spotlight with grit and brilliance. With Vantika and Divya leading the charge, the FIDE Women’s World Cup is turning into a showcase of India’s rising chess power.
“Success in chess comes from knowing when to wait and when to strike.” – This perfectly captures the essence of both Vantika’s tactical aggression and Divya’s patient domination.
