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FIDE Women’s World Cup Round of 16 – Day 1
After a refreshing rest day, the top sixteen players returned to the Grand Bellagio venue. They began the first games of the two-game Round of 16 that will decide who makes it to the quarterfinals.
The round officially started when Irma Nizharadze, Head of the Sports Department of Adjara, welcomed the players. She made the ceremonial first move on GM Lei Tingjie’s board.
Lei Tingjie’s Confident Start
Top seed GM Lei Tingjie chose a solid approach against WIM Umida Omonova. She remembered playing a blitz game against Omonova two years ago. Knowing Omonova’s tactical strength, Lei avoided time trouble.
Omonova made a few positional mistakes and tried an exchange sacrifice, but it didn’t help. Lei calmly converted her advantage, showing her class.
Divya Deshmukh Breaks the Mental Block
IM Divya Deshmukh scored a great win against GM Zhu Jiner. Divya had lost to Zhu in Nicosia and Pune earlier this year. Instead of focusing on her opponent, Divya played “against the pieces.”
Her smart play in the Najdorf, especially controlling the d5 square, was impressive. She forced a favorable endgame with a good knight vs bad bishop. Her precise tactics secured a well-deserved victory.
Tan Zhongyi Takes Revenge
GM Tan Zhongyi defeated IM Yuliia Osmak, getting payback for her 2020 Online Olympiad loss. Tan admitted her tournament performance had been “average” so far. Osmak was under pressure most of the game and finally blundered on move 31.
Instead of playing 31…Ke8, she played 31…Nd7?, allowing Tan’s pieces to invade. A few moves later, Osmak had to resign.
Song Yuxin’s Preparation Pays Off
IM Song Yuxin also started with a win against local GM Lela Javakhishvili. Song had lost to Javakhishvili twice before, but deep opening preparation helped her today. Always smiling, Song shared her thoughts after the game in the media center.
Draws on Other Boards
The remaining four matches ended in draws:
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GM Alexandra Kosteniuk and GM Humpy Koneru drew in a precise Spanish Berlin Defense.
Kosteniuk played with 98% accuracy, and they know each other well, having played 73 games. -
GM Kateryna Lagno missed a chance to gain an edge against GM Harika Dronavalli.
The game simplified into a rook endgame and ended in draw number 48 in their head-to-head.
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GM Mariya Muzychuk couldn’t find a breakthrough against GM Nana Dzagnidze.
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GM Vaishali Rameshbabu also drew with IM Meruert Kamalidenova after a balanced game.
What’s Next?
All players will return tomorrow, switching colors, to fight for a spot in the quarterfinals. Follow the games live with expert commentary from GM Valeriane Gaprindashvili and IM Almira Skripchenko on FIDE’s YouTube channel.
About the Tournament
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup is taking place in Batumi, Georgia, from July 6th to July 28th. It features 107 players from 46 countries, including 17 of the current world top 20. They are competing for a $50,000 first prize and three spots in the Candidates Tournament.
For pairings and daily results, check the official Women’s World Cup website.
Photos: Anna Shtourman, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
