Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 26: The first game of the much-anticipated final between Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh ended in a tense draw after 41 moves, following a threefold repetition initiated by 41. Kh2 Qf2+. Despite the balanced result, the clash delivered high drama with sharp, imbalanced play that kept both players on edge.

Divya, playing White, launched into an aggressive and creative opening, opting for an early pawn sacrifice to seize initiative and space. Her innovative choices in the Queen's Gambit Accepted line led to a sharp middlegame, where she held a slight material edge but found herself under increasing tactical pressure from Humpy’s active counterplay.

Humpy responded resourcefully, creating threats with her queen and rook that gradually neutralised Divya’s momentum. The turning point came after a series of forcing moves led to a perpetual check, forcing both sides to split the point.

The hard-fought draw sets up a high-stakes Game 2, with both players showing form and intent. With everything still to play for, fans can expect another thrilling encounter in the next round.