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FIDE Women’s World Cup Round of 16 – Day 2: Big wins, tense draws
The second game of the Round of 16 at the FIDE Women’s World Cup brought plenty of excitement. Eight matches were played. Only two had clear winners. The other six ended in draws, pushing them into tiebreaks.
China’s top players, GM Lei Tingjie and GM Tan Zhongyi, won their matches and reached the quarterfinals. They haven’t needed a single tiebreak so far! Joining them is GM Nana Dzagnidze and the tournament’s rising star, IM Song Yuxin.
The four Indian players still have a chance. They head to tiebreaks tomorrow, fighting for their place in the final eight.
Let’s look closer at today’s key games:
Lei Tingjie ends Omonova’s run
WIM Umida Omonova needed a win to force tiebreaks. She played 1.e4, showing her fighting spirit. But GM Lei Tingjie surprised her by choosing the solid Petroff Defense.
Omonova missed a key move: 40.f4! Instead, she played 40.Nf5?, losing her chance to press for a win. The game ended in a draw by perpetual check.
After the game, Omonova stayed positive. She focused on future tournaments and her goal to become World Champion.
Divya Deshmukh vs Zhu Jiner: A tricky Vienna surprise
IM Divya Deshmukh usually plays the Sicilian as Black. GM Zhu Jiner surprised her by playing the rare Mieses variation of the Vienna Game.
Divya had only faced this opening once before and lost that game. Both players showed great preparation, playing quickly through the opening.
As the queens came off, Zhu showed better understanding of the position. She gained an advantage and converted it into a win, forcing tiebreaks tomorrow.
Dzagnidze defeats Mariya Muzychuk
GM Nana Dzagnidze wanted to keep things solid but still press for a win. Mariya Muzychuk surprised her with an opening she hadn’t used before.
Dzagnidze calmly took a pawn and played accurately in the endgame. Her technique paid off, and she won the game, avoiding tiebreaks.
Despite being tired, Dzagnidze shared her thoughts with the press after the game.
Song Yuxin shows her strength
GM Lela Javakhishvili played aggressively, choosing a reversed King’s Indian setup as White. IM Song Yuxin stayed calm, equalized early, and then took over the position.
Lela pushed her kingside pawns, trying to create chances. This backfired, and Song got the upper hand.
Instead of risking too much, Song offered a draw from a strong position. The draw was enough for her to reach the quarterfinals.
Tan Zhongyi holds against Osmak
In the Neo-Grunfeld Defense, IM Yuliia Osmak sacrificed a pawn for active play. She attacked hard and won the exchange.
GM Tan Zhongyi defended well, using her experience to hold the balance. After a tense fight, the game ended in a draw.
Kosteniuk’s defense stops Humpy
GM Humpy Koneru gained an early advantage in the Bogo-Indian Defense. She increased the pressure steadily.
But GM Alexandra Kosteniuk defended excellently. She neutralized Humpy’s threats and even prepared counterplay. The game ended in a draw, and both players will play tiebreaks tomorrow.
Vaishali and Kamalidenova share the point
GM Vaishali Rameshbabu played the Caro-Kann as Black. IM Meruert Kamalidenova used an unusual sideline.
Vaishali sacrificed a pawn for activity, but Kamalidenova returned it to keep equality. After many exchanges, they reached a balanced endgame and agreed to a draw after seventy moves.
Harika and Lagno stay equal
GM Harika Dronavalli and GM Kateryna Lagno played another solid game. Both showed impressive accuracy, making no big mistakes. They also head to tiebreaks tomorrow.
Follow the action live!
Watch the games with commentary from GM Valeriane Gaprindashvili and IM Almira Skripchenko on the FIDE YouTube channel.
About the tournament
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup is happening in Batumi, Georgia, from July 6th to 28th. 107 top female players from 46 countries are competing. They’re fighting for the $50,000 first prize and three spots in the Candidates Tournament.
Find full results and pairings on the official Women’s World Cup website.
Photos: Anna Shtourman, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
