Lichess is providing a live stream of the Women’s World Cup from the first quarter-final game on 19 July until the final tiebreaks on 28 July. Make sure to tune in to our Twitch or YouTube channels for live stream coverage with our host WIM Jesse February, joined by WCM Katharina Reinecke on most of the days, WCM Niushar Afshar on 23 & 24 July, and WIM Ellen Nilssen on 26 July. Every round starts at 11:00 UTC.
Tournament Information
OnTheQueenside, who covers women’s chess, has published a detailed overview of the 2025 Women’s World Cup, including background information on the event and its players and predictions of who will win. Check it out here.
Bracket
The single elimination bracket with the pairings for each round can be found here.
Annotations by WIM Silvia Raluca Sgîrcea
WIM Silvia Raluca Sgîrcea has annotated all four classical games from the semi-finals of the 2025 Women’s World Cup:
https://lichess.org/study/PmL7NbB1/Hui0BXKR#0
https://lichess.org/study/PmL7NbB1/a3DBHRMT#0
https://lichess.org/study/PmL7NbB1/5E6rJEtI#0
https://lichess.org/study/PmL7NbB1/u5HHR60b#0
Overview
Divya Deshmukh, being the 16th seed and originally qualifying as the 2024 FIDE World Girls U20 Champion, makes history being the first Indian player – and the youngest – to reach the Women’s World Cup final, securing her spot in 2026 Women’s Candidates, by defeating the former Women’s World Champion, Tan Zhongyi 1.5-0.5 in the classical games. In the other pair of the Semifinals, Koneru Humpy eliminated Lei Tingjie in an intense match eventually decided in the blitz tiebreaks.
Divya Deshmukh – Tan Zhongyi
The first classical game of the match between Divya Deshmukh and Tan Zhongyi was rather uneventful and peaceful. With the Queen’s gambit declined played, both players stuck to a rather safe approach; already by move 18, the position was highly simplified into an endgame with two pairs of rook and a bishop for a knight.
https://lichess.org/study/ooHgkvuE/oTP4XLG9#36
IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Tan Zhongyi
Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE
Despite the apparent asymmetry in the queenside pawn structure, neither player can push to make any progress – White has doubled c pawns in a semi – open file, but at the same time the c4 pawns fixes Black’s weak pawns on a6 and c6, not allowing much room for progress for either side. Not much later, the c pawns were exchanged for the a-c pawns, and with a totally symmetrical position and no realistic hopes to make progress, the two players agreed on a draw, saving their energy for the next classical game.
In the second game of the match, Deshmukh opted to counter Tan’s Sicilian with the Alapin, aiming to get a fighting game and a decisive result. Black countering an a3 sideline with the fairly uncommon early dxe5 got the game into uncharted territories and an unfamiliar position; a factor that would have it’s importance.
White had an opportunity to get a decisive advantage early in the game, after 13…Nb3? 14. Ne4! Nxc1:
https://lichess.org/study/aQtmx4se/9H7rrw3m#28
After 15. Qxd8, Black would either allow a very strong knight on d6 with Bxd8, or have significant issues with her development after Kxd8 Rfd1+. In the game however, Deshmukh missed this opportunity and immediately captured the knight. A sharp middlegame followed, with both players navigating an unfamiliar position; White allowed her opponent a bishop pair advantage against her own two knights, in exchange for an extra pawn. With Deshmukh under time pressure, it was Tan who now managed to get an advantage with her passed d pawn reaching d3. An advantage that also slipped, due to an early ineffective liquefaction, eventually leaving White two pawns up, further simplified into a rook endgame.
Despite being two pawns up, the rook endgame did not come without subtleties for both players to consider, partly due to White’s pawn structure and restricted king:
https://lichess.org/study/aQtmx4se/9H7rrw3m#113
Despite looking natural, b6 was not the right plan – instead f4 was necessary to allow activating the king – and now Black could hold the draw. However this was no easy task, and Tan was unable to find the right drawing plan until the end, with Deshmukh emerging winner after a long fight.
Koneru Humpy – Lei Tingjie
In a highly emotionally intense match that reached all the way until the blitz tiebreaks, Koneru Humpy eliminated her opponent Lei Tingjie, securi ng her spot to face her already qualified compatriot, Divya Deshmukh in the finals. With the first game of the match being a relatively smooth draw, Humpy had the opportunity to win the match in the second classical game.
With both players getting into time trouble shortly after reaching the time control, Humpy managed to get a significant – but still not easy to convert – advantage in the rook endgame. Being a pawn up is frequently not enough against a highly active rook, however an incorrect plan by Tingjie allowed to White activate her king after effectively exchanging some pawns. However, at the critical moment, Humpy was not able to continue with the right plan:
https://lichess.org/study/aQtmx4se/NeOPmQG7#126
GM Lei Tingjie and GM Koneru Humpy
Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE
In order to make progress, 64. Rd5 was necessary, making space for her king to infiltrate, followed by Rd4 or f5, depending on White’s continuation. However a rushed f5 allowed Black to block any progress, with the game soon ending in a draw, sending the match to the tiebreaks.
In the first game of the tiebreaks, it was Tingjie’s turn to get a winning opportunity, as an innocent-looking Nf6 could allow a massive blow:
https://lichess.org/study/bNH8ll96/gPrXoaCA#36
Due to Tingjie’s superior piece development, Black’s weakened kingside pawn structure and cramped pieces, White could play 19.Bxh6! temporarily giving up a piece for two pawns (after Qd2 the h6 pawn cannot be defended, Ngf5 would lead to an unstoppable mate), getting an overwhelming attack, with the material soon to be returned with interest. However White missed this idea, eventually letting her initiative slip, and despite some less clear opportunities later on, the game ended in a draw. Neither player was willing to take any risks in game 2, and an early, dry draw sent the game to the second set of tiebreaks.
Tiebreak 2 started with a decisive game for Tingjie, as she managed to outplay Humpy in an Italian game, putting her in a must-win situation. Hope was far from lost for her however; with a Semi-Slav played, Humpy managed to make progress and get an ovewhemling positional advantage into the queenside, eventually getting a pawn chain, a c-passed pawn and a strong outpost for her knight on d6.
https://lichess.org/study/RpETjNK1/TTBnuFub#49
Tingjie sacrificed an exchange for a pawn, hoping to manage creating some counterplay, however this proved to be ineffective; White was able to eventually simplify the position, win the game and send the match to the blitz tiebreaks.
Game 1, eventually lasting a total of 70 moves, saw both players getting into time trouble and relying on the three seconds increment, already by move 20. Humpy was an exchange up, only to blunder it a few moves later. A missed endgame tactical threat would allow Humpy a winning advantage:
https://lichess.org/study/aolPvZe4/DvH3zxQm#87
Humpy is currently threatening to play Qd7 exploiting Black’s king’s weaknesses. Qf8 would prevent this, however Tingjie realises it a move too late; after 44…Ra6 45. Qd7 she is forced to play Qf8; however this time losing a queen for a rook after Rc8. Humpy was able to convert this advantage into a full point, this time putting her opponent on the ropes. However Tingjie was not able to recover, eventually after an ineffective piece sacrifice, with Humpy emerging as the winner and going through to the finals.
Puzzle Pack
Enjoy our collection of puzzles from the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025!
https://lichess.org/study/6lb13AlX