The Women’s Rapid event at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions in recent memory.
After eight rounds of play, Zhu Jiner of China and Humpy Koneru of India sit joint leaders on 6.5/8, setting the stage for a tense final day with little margin for error. With as many as ten players clustered just half a point behind on 6/8, the title remains wide open.
Zhu Jiner’s campaign has been a study in control and resilience. Having led after Day One, the Chinese GM continued her steady run on Day Two, navigating a series of tough pairings without losing composure. Her round-five draw against Aleksandra Goryachkina came in a balanced endgame where neither side was able to force the issue. Two more draws followed against elite opposition in Nino Batsiashvili and Mariya Muzychuk, results that kept her firmly in the leading pack even without decisive wins.
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The pivotal moment of Zhu’s day came in the final round, where she faced India’s Divya Deshmukh, the reigning Women’s World Cup champion. The game featured sharp middlegame complications and an unbalanced structure that appeared roughly equal. However, Divya’s seemingly innocuous 30…e4 turned out to be a decisive blunder, allowing Zhu to seize the initiative and convert the advantage. That win lifted Zhu to 6.5 points and ensured she would share the lead heading into the final stretch.
For Humpy Koneru, the day underlined her reputation as one of the most consistent rapid players in the world. The defending champion had ended Round 7 as the sole leader on six points, having once again demonstrated her ability to score when it matters. On Day Two, Humpy added 3.5 points from four games, a return that kept her firmly at the summit despite intense pressure from the chasing group.
One of Humpy’s most instructive games came against Aleksandra Goryachkina, a player known for her positional precision. Playing the Petrov Defence, Goryachkina emerged slightly better from the opening and seemed to have the upper hand. However, her decision to grab a pawn on move 24 allowed Humpy enough counterplay to equalise. The game eventually ended in a draw, a result that proved sufficient for Koneru to remain at the top and later share first place with Zhu.
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Behind the joint leaders, the leaderboard reflects extraordinary congestion. Players such as Aleksandra Goryachkina, Nino Batsiashvili, Lei Tingjie, Mariya Muzychuk, Chen Yining, Harika Dronavalli, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul, and Kateryna Lagno are all within striking distance. With tie-breaks likely to play a decisive role, even half-points conceded earlier in the tournament could prove costly.
Goryachkina, in particular, has been a model of consistency throughout the event. While she has not yet surged into sole leadership, her ability to avoid losses against top contenders keeps her firmly in contention. Similarly, Georgia’s Nino Batsiashvili and China’s Lei Tingjie remain dangerous floaters, capable of capitalising on any slip by the leaders.
The tournament has been less forgiving for some of the biggest names. Ju Wenjun, the reigning World Champion in classical chess, endured a difficult Day Two. Her loss as Black to Meri Arabidze in a rook endgame was a significant setback, though she responded well with two consecutive wins to stay competitive. However, in the final round of the day, Ju suffered a surprising defeat to Mongolia’s Bat-Erdene Mungunzul, a player rated nearly 300 points lower. Despite reaching a winning position in the Pirc Defence, Ju faltered in time trouble and eventually lost, leaving her stranded on 4.5/8, well off the pace.
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From an Indian perspective, the spotlight remains firmly on Humpy Koneru, whose calm decision-making and deep experience continue to pay dividends. Meanwhile, Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh remain part of the extended chasing group, capable of influencing the final standings even if the title slips out of reach.
With Sunday marking the final day of the Women’s Rapid, only three rounds remain to decide the champion.
The margins are razor-thin, the field tightly packed, and momentum shifting rapidly from round to round. Whether experience prevails in Humpy Koneru, or Zhu Jiner converts her consistency into a world title, the conclusion promises high drama in Doha.
