Humpy sets up historic all-Indian FIDE Women's World Cup final against Divya after beating top-seed Lei

The FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, is set to witness a historic all-Indian final with Grandmaster Koneru Humpy defeating Chinese top-seed Lei Tingjie in the tie-breaks to win her semi-final showdown with a 5-3 scoreline.

Reigning women's world rapid champion Humpy is set to face International Master Divya Deshmukh, who had won the other Sino-Indian semi-final showdown with a victory over veteran GM Tan Zhongyi 1.5-0.5 on Wednesday.

Humpy joins Divya in Candidates after advancing to World Cup final

The victory also confirms Humpy's place in next year's Women's Candidates Tournament, where she will be one of at least two Indians fighting to challenge reigning world champion Ju Wenjun.

World No 3 Lei had earlier dragged the semi-final into the tie-breaks after holding Humpy to a draw in the second Classical game on Wednesday. And she found herself leading 3-2 at one stage of the tie-breaks, before the 38-year-old Indian GM roared back with a hat-trick of victories – two of them with white pieces.

More from Chess

Only one Indian (GM Harika Dronavalli in 2021) had reached the previous two editions of the prestigious tournament. This edition has witnessed four Indians in the quarter-finals, with two of them going the distance.

The action will resume in Batumi on Saturday, with Friday being the second 'Free Day' of the ongoing tournament. And while Humpy and Divya battle for the top prize, Lei and Tan will be competing in an all-Chinese third-place playoff, in which the winner will join the two Indians in the Candidates Tournament next year.

Humpy will be eyeing the biggest victory since she was crowned women's rapid world champion in New York City last December – winning the event for the second time in her career. Divya, meanwhile, will be hoping to secure her Grandmaster title by defeating her more experienced compatriot in the final.