FIDE Women’s World Cup Day 5: Shocks, wins & tense tiebreaks ahead!

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What a thrilling moments happened at the day 5 of 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi! 15-year-old WFM Elnaz Kaliakhmet (born in 2010) caused the biggest upset by eliminating local GM Nino Batsiashvili. Tomorrow, 12 matches will go to tiebreaks to decide who moves on.

Big names behind the scenes

The event is carefully run by Akaki Iashvili, President of the Georgian Chess Federation and Chair of the FIDE Events Commission. He works closely with FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky. Today, Batumi’s Mayor, Giorgi Murvanidze, visited the hall and played the first move for WGM Candela Be Francisco on board one.

Safe strategies and quick draws

In the second game, many players who had drawn earlier chose solid strategies to avoid risky mistakes. This makes sense, since the 32 players who qualify for round three are guaranteed at least €6,750.

Indian IM Rout Padmini went for a safe draw against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk after sacrificing a piece. This forced a perpetual check and avoided the 30-move no-draw rule. It was a clever way to secure a tiebreak chance.

Matches heading to tiebreaks tomorrow

Some thrilling clashes will continue tomorrow:

  • FM Anastasia Avramidou vs GM Kateryna Lagno

  • WIM Umida Omonova vs IM Alina Kashlinskaya

  • IM Inna Gaponenko vs GM Anna Muzychuk

  • WGM Thalia Cervantes vs GM Mariya Muzychuk

  • IM Klaudia Kulon vs WIM Priyanka K.

  • GM Elina Danielian vs GM Antoaneta Stefanova

Confident wins and round three qualifiers

Several top players won smoothly and get to rest tomorrow. IM Polina Shuvalova won both games against IM Gulnar Mammadova. In her interview, she spoke about growing from a sharp, risky style to a calm, solid approach.

Top seed GM Lei Tingjie had a long fight but eventually won her second game. Former Women’s World Champion GM Tan Zhongyi defeated Georgian prodigy WFM Anastasia Kirtadze in both games.

GM Nana Dzagnidze played a nice tactical game to advance. IM Yuliia Osmak showed great endgame skills to beat WIM Wang Chuqiao. She mentioned studying Magnus Carlsen’s endgames to learn how to turn small advantages into wins.

All four top Indian players qualified:

  • GM Humpy Koneru and IM Divya Deshmukh drew today after winning their first games.

  • GM Vaishali Rameshbabu won both games.

  • GM Harika Dronavalli sealed victory in the second game.

Harika later shared how to win an attacking game even without queens on the board.

Farewells and surprises

GM Irina Krush needed to win but had to resign against IM Carissa Yip. IM Alice Lee lost her second game to WGM Anna Shukhman and is out of the tournament. Romanian IM Irina Bulmaga surprised IM Deimante Daulyte-Cornette in the opening and finished with a winning attack.

Comebacks keep the tension high

Some players came back from defeat to force tiebreaks:

  • GM Aleksandra Goryachkina

  • GM Anna Ushenina

  • IM Song Yuxin

  • IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya

  • IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova

Georgia still has strong hopes

Even though GM Nino Batsiashvili is out, Georgia still has GM Nana Dzagnidze, Bella Khotenashvili, Lela Javakhishvili and IM Meri Arabidze in the race.

About the tournament

The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup runs from July 6–28 in Batumi, Georgia. It features 107 top players from 46 countries, including 17 of the world’s top 20 women. They’re fighting for a €50,000 first prize and three spots in the Candidates Tournament. Find full results and pairings on the official website.

Photos: Anna Shtourman, Polina Bovina, Andrei Anosov, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS

 

Warrior Chess Academy


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