Batumi, July 23 -- India's rising chess star, IM Divya Deshmukh, continued her sensational run at the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup, defeating China's GM Tan Zhongyi in their second game to seal her place in the final.

With this victory, the 19-year-old not only secures a spot in the final of the prestigious event but also earns a coveted Grandmaster norm and qualifies for the next Women's Candidates Tournament, a major step forward in her career.

The second finalist will be decided on Thursday in a high-stakes playoff between India's Koneru Humpy and China's Lei Tingjie, setting up the possibility of an all-Indian final.

Humpy's first game with China's Lei Tingjie ended in a draw at 0.5-0.5 each, and so did the other semifinal first gam...