Despite World Cup final defeat, Koneru Humpy on top of FIDE Circuit Leaderboard
(Courtesy : @FIDE_chess/Twitter)
Following the Women’s Chess World Cup, five players have qualified for the 2026 Candidates.
Following the outcome of the 2025 FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup, where 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh won the title against veteran Koneru Humpy, the standings in the 2024–25 FIDE Women’s Events series have undergone a shake-up.
The tournament, held in Batumi, determined three qualifiers for the 2026 Candidates Tournament — the event that will decide the next challenger for the Women’s World Championship.
India’s young chess sensation Divya clinched the FIDE Chess World Cup title with a 1.5-0.5 win in the tiebreak against Humpy, also earning her grandmaster title. Both the Indian finalists secured their places in the Candidates.
Former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi, who finished third, also qualified for next year’s ultimate battle.
Meanwhile, despite the loss in the final, Koneru Humpy remains atop the Women’s Events series standings with 224 points, ahead of Tan Zhongyi’s 153.
Also Read: A look at four female chess grandmasters from India
Divya’s historic run in Batumi puts her in third place with 140 points, 12 clear of Zhu Jiner. Five of the current top six in the standings have already qualified for the Candidates where the winner will challenge World Champion Ju Wenjun who is currently placed sixth with 86.5 points. It will be an eight-player event and follow the double round robin format.
Two of the eight spots for the Candidates 2026 were secured earlier through the Women’s Grand Prix. The winner of the tournament Zhu Jiner and runner-up Alexandra Goryachkina both qualified. Now, there are three spots remaining.
The players have only two more tournaments where the remaining three spots can be filled—two at the upcoming Grand Swiss in September, and one is reserved for the winner of the overall 2024–25 Women’s Events series.
Who leads the Women’s FIDE Circuit Leaderboard?
Indian chess legend Koneru Humpy leads the 2024–25 Women’s FIDE Circuit Leaderboard comfortably with 224 Ranking Points, more than 70 ahead of Tan Zhongyi in second.
What is Divya Deshmukh’s ranking in FIDE Women’s Chess Series?
After the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup victory Divya Deshmukh sits on third place with 140 points.
How many players have already qualified for Candidates Tournament 2026?
As of now, five players have booked their spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Who is the current Women’s Chess World Champion?
Ju Wenjun is the current Women’s Chess World Champion.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.
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