India began the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa with a strong contingent of 24 players, but only three now remain in contention. Among those following the action closely is Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who visited the venue to enjoy the games and share her insights as part of the commentary panel. One of the world’s finest female chess players, Humpy remains optimistic that India still has a strong chance of making a deep run in the tournament.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Humpy said she had been tracking the competition from day one and was impressed with the overall performance of the Indian squad. “Some of them have gone beyond expectations and reached further rounds. Of course, we expected more from Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa. Their early exit disappointed many chess fans,” she admitted. “But knockout tournaments are unpredictable — you need a bit of luck along with form on the given day.”
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She noted that the high-pressure knockout format makes progress difficult even for elite players, pointing out that several big names — including Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi — suffered early exits. “At the end of the day, it is sport. Anything can happen in tie-breaks, where even last-moment swings can change the outcome,” she said.
Assessing the remaining contenders, Humpy’s prediction proved accurate as Arjun Erigaisi defeated US representative Levon Aronian to advance to the quarterfinals. “Arjun is young, talented, and has a good record against Aronian in rapid formats,” she had said earlier, adding that Russia’s Daniil Dubov is a particularly dangerous opponent in tie-break scenarios.
Asked about India’s lone female representative, Divya Deshmukh — who exited in the first round — Humpy urged patience. “This is an extremely strong tournament, and Divya is still very young. It’s a great experience for her. We cannot compare women’s results with the men’s circuit,” she said.
Despite the mixed results, Humpy remains confident about India’s prospects. “Arjun and Harikrishna are still in the fray. I believe they can go further,” she said with conviction.
