Women's World Cup 2025 Round 3.1: Vantika Agrawal upsets Kateryna Lagno

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/07/2025

IM Vantika Agrawal is on a huge roll at FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. She defeated GM Kateryna Lagno in Round 3 Game 1. The former World Rapid and three-time World Blitz Women's champion erred in a difficult position. It cost her material and Vantika scored the victory convincingly. IM Divya Deshmukh won against the reigning European Women's champion, IM Teodora Injac (SRB). One tiny inaccuracy in the endgame is all it took for Divya to bag the advantage and point. GM Harika Dronavalli missed a few great chances to win against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE). GM Koneru Humpy was lost for the better part of the game against IM Klaudia Kulon (POL). Somehow she managed to survive and salvage a draw. GM R Vaishali made a quick 13-move draw against IM Carissa Yip (USA). Round 3 Game 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Divya scores, Humpy survives and Harika misses

Vantika Agrawal and Divya Deshmukh are just a draw away from advancing to Round 4. Koneru Humpy would like make the most out of her opportunity after escaping a loss. She would need to forget that game quickly. Harika Dronavalli will also need to seize her chances when she gets one or more.

IM Vantika Agrawal is on the verge of eliminating GM Kateryna Lagno | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Humpy - Klaudia: 0.5-0.5

GM Koneru Humpy (2536) and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2406) battled each other for the first time in a Classical rated game. Humpy arrived at a lost position by move 20. She went wrong when she castled her king 15.0-0?

Position after 15.0-0?

15.Be2 Rxf2 16.Qxf2 Bxc3+ 17.Kf1 would have been fine for White. 15.0-0? put White in a lot of trouble Qxc4 16.Qxc7 Rf7 17.Qg3 Nd4 White is yet to complete development of her pieces whereas Black has done it and making a lot of serious threats. 18.Re1 Nc2 19.Bxh6 Bc5 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Nxa1 22.Rxa1 somehow White eventually managed to escape with a draw.

GM Koneru Humpy survived against IM Klaudia Kulon (POL) despite being lost for the better part of the game | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Teodora - Divya: 0-1

The only time IM Teodora Injac (SRB, 2457) and IM Divya Deshmukh (2463) played a Classical rated game was nearly nine years ago at World Junior Girls. Teodora won that battle. This time, Divya got the better of her opponent.

Position after 31.Kd2?

One inaccuracy is all it took for Divya to turn things in her favor 31.Kd2? c5! 32.Rbg1 White should have played it in the previous move. 32...cxd4 33.exd4?? a bigger mistake 33.Rxg6 would not have changed the outcome but a relatively better choice. 33...Rxd4-+ 34.Kc3 Rf4 35.Rxg6 Ne5 36.Rg7+ Kf6 37.R7g3 d4+ 38.Kb2 Rxf2+ 39.Ka3 f4 and Black won.

IM Divya Deshmukh defeated the reigning European Women's 2025 Champion, IM Teodora Injac (SRB) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Vantika - Kateryna: 1-0

IM Vantika Agrawal (2377) played one Rapid and two Blitz rated games against GM Katernya Lagno (2515). This was their first Classical rated game.

Position after 19...b4?

19...b4? is an unforced error 20.Qa4+- Bd7? 21.e5! Nxe5?? 22.Nxe7+ Kf8 23.Bxb7 Bxa4 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.fxe5 and White won the game after a dozen more moves as Black has no compensation for the lost material.

Interview with IM Vantika Agrawal | Video: FIDE

IM Vantika Agrawal is in terrific form | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Harika - Stavroula: 0.5-0.5

GM Harika Dronavalli (2488) and IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2428) played only one Classical rated game earlier this year. It ended in a draw. This time also the result was the same. However, Harika missed got herself a promising position and missed a few winning chances.

Position after 40...Qe8

41.f5 is what White needed to play. 41...exf5 42.Qxe8+ Bxe8 43.Rc8 Kf8 44.Rb8 Rd7 45.Bc7 would have been winning for White. The game continued 41.Qxb7 Bb5 42.Qe4 Rd7 43.Bc5 Rxc7 44.dxc7 Bc6 45.Qb4 Qc8 46.Bd6 Kf7 47.Qc5 Qb7 48.Qh5+ Kg8 49.b4 Bd7 50.Qc5 Bc8 51.f5 Kf7?? presented White the best winning opportunity in the game.

Position after 51...Kf7??

Try to find out the winning continuation for White. 52.fxe6+? and White's best opportunity evaporated.

GM Harika Dronavalli missed a great opportunity to win the first game against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Carissa - Vaishali: 0.5-0.5

IM Carissa Yip (USA, 2453) made a quick 13-move draw against GM R Vaishali (2478).

GM R Vaishali made a quick 13-move draw against IM Carissa Yip (USA) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

IM Divya Deshmukh embraced by her mother before the game | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Round 3 Game 1 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Round 3.1 results

GM Koneru Humpy - IM Klaudia Kulon (POL): 0.5-0.5

IM Teodora Injac (SRB) - IM Divya Deshmukh: 0-1

IM Vantika Agrawal - GM Kateryna Lagno: 1-0

GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Stavroula Tsolakidou: 0.5-0.5

IM Carissa Yip (USA) - GM R Vaishali: 0.5-0.5

Details

Watch Round 3.1 live stream

Watch Round 3.1 live commentary by IM Almira Skripchenko (FRA) and GM Valeriane Gaprindashvili (GEO) | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 3.1 games

Prizes

The total prize fund is US$ 691250 which will be distributed among 107 players. The top three prizes are $50000, 35000 and 25000.

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

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