Divya Deshmukh Overwhelmed After Beating Compatriot D Harika At World Cup | Watch

Last Updated:July 22, 2025, 08:33 IST

Divya Deshmukh has beaten Harika Dronavalli in FIDE Women's World Chess Cup quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals.

Divya Deshmukh was overwhelmed after her win against D Harika (Picture credit: Screengrab from X/ X @FIDE_chess)

Star Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh was visibly overwhelmed after she got the better of compatriot and a much-experienced Harika Dronavalli in the quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup, which is being played in Batumi in Georgia, and will determine which three players go on to play the Candidates next year.

After two uneventful draws in the classical matches, the pressure was on Harika in the rapid tiebreaks.

Divya capitalised with a determined performance to win the first match, before sealing the game in the second as Harika, in a must-win situation, overpressed in search of a miracle that never happened.

After Harika understood that there was no way out and shook hands with Divya to admit defeat, the latter had her hands on her face as she tried to control tears. Watch the video here:

While Harika has been a semifinalist thrice in a similar format, which was earlier called the World Women’s Championship, Koneru Humpy and now Divya have become the two Indians who made it to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup, as this is a part of the new World Championship cycle.

This means that one Indian entry is assured in the Women’s Candidates Tournaments slated sometime in 2026, which will decide who will contest the World Championship game against incumbent Ju Wenjun of China.

With Divya joining Humpy as the other semifinalist, it showcases a paradigm shift in Indian women’s chess as well, where the boys have been making hay.

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News sports Divya Deshmukh Overwhelmed After Beating Compatriot D Harika At World Cup | Watch