Divya holds Humpy to push final into tiebreaker

A more sedate draw in the second classical game of the FIDE Women's World Cup final between young Divya Deshmukh and the seasoned Koneru Humpy took matters into the faster tiebreaks on Monday to determine the new Indian champion at Batumi, Georgia.

- HT Correspondent

Playing with white on Sunday, GM Humpy was expected to press for an advantage. Despite creating some chances towards the end to push her opponent into an awkward position, the two shook hands for a 34-move draw that was less dramatic than on Saturday. Still, speaking to FIDE after Sunday's game, the teen felt it could've been a much easier draw for her. “I got into some trouble for no reason,” she said.

IM Divya has been the more adventurous finalist across the two classical games, but now enters into a rapid and blitz tiebreaks territory where her experienced opponent flaunts greater pedigree. Humpy, 38, is the reigning world rapid champion, a title she had also won in 2019. In the faster formats, as Divya herself called it, her opponent is a “really strong player”.