Koneru Humpy On Why She Lost To Divya Deshmukh In Chess WC: 'I Couldn't Get...'

Last Updated:August 15, 2025, 23:36 IST

Koneru Humpy cited 'lack of energy' for her loss to Divya Deshmukh in the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Final. Deshmukh won 2.5-1.5, becoming the first Indian champion.

Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh (PTI Photo)

Koneru Humpy has blamed her FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup Final loss to the younger and lower-ranked Divya Deshmukh on ‘lack of energy’ in the last matches. Humpy said she took more and more pressure and Deshmukh pounced on the opportunity with her ‘solid’ game with hardly any mistakes.

Deshmukh became the first Indian to win the title in Georgia. She beat Humpy with a score of 2.5-1.5. The final went into the tie-breaks before the first Rapid game ended in a draw. Divya scored a brilliant win with the Black pieces in the second to clinch it. She also got promoted to Grandmaster with the win.

“I didn’t show my energy levels," Humpy told Firstpost. “Divya played a solid classical game. I couldn’t get much out of that. When it came to tie break. The first game was a chance to take the initiative but I missed it out. Later on when it was equal, I started taking the pressure and went with the wrong choices. It was the lack of energy towards the end. It was one of the reasons I couldn’t perform up to the mark. Divya utilised the opportunity," she added.

Still, the spectacle was surreal. Thousands of people turned up on live streams around the world to catch a rare all-India final, another proof of India’s growing stronghold in the sport.

“Having two Indians was something unexpected," Humpy admitted. “That too in a knockout format. It is very common for players to be tied in a ranking or classical event. In knockouts, from two different groups – two Indians coming to the finals. Before that we had four Indians in the quarterfinals – That itself is a remarkable achievement. Indian chess is in a great position and thanks to the support of all the officials," she said.

She also agreed that India was growing to be a powerhouse in chess.

“Yes, definitely, because that also reflects in the rankings at the world level. Specifically, if we see in the men’s circuit, we have all our top players in the world rankings. So that clearly says that we are leading."

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First Published:

August 15, 2025, 23:36 IST

News sports Koneru Humpy On Why She Lost To Divya Deshmukh In Chess WC: 'I Couldn't Get...'

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