Vantika Agrawal, who is currently an International Master with a rating of 2377, handed former women’s world champion Anna Ushenina (rating of 2413) a defeat with the white pieces in the first game of a two-game second round match at the ongoing FIDE Women’s World Cup in the Georgian city of Batumi. Both players will be back with colours reversed to play in the second game of the match tomorrow. The Ukrainian Ushenina had ascended to the women’s throne in 2012 and wore the crown till 2013. She’s crossed the 2500 rating threshold a few times over the course of her long career while young Vantika’s peak rating so far has been 2435.
Vantika was one of the stars of the Indian women’s team which won the Chess Olympiad team gold last year in Budapest with Vantika claiming a individual gold as well for board 4 in the women’s event.
Meanwhile, another former women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (who now represents Switzerland) was held to a draw by India’s Padmini Rout in a remarkable result. The day brought plenty of good news for other Indian players in action: Koneru Humpy (versus Khamdamova Afruza of Uzbekistan), Vaishali Rameshbabu (vs Ouellet Maili-Jade of Canada) and Divya Deshmukh (vs Mgeladze Kesaria of Georgia) all secured wins in the first game.
Meanwhile, the all Indian clash between Harika Dronavalli and Nandhidhaa PV ended in a draw while Priyanka K also held Kulon Klaudia of Poland to a draw.
The FIDE Women’s World Cup offers three spots to the prestigious 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, a tournament which will decide the challenger to compete against world champion Ju Wenjun.
INTERACTIVE: How Vantika beat an ex-women’s world champion
The Indian forced her opponent to resign in 36 moves. When the resignation came, the Ukrainian was up a pawn and a knight, and Vantika had just offered up her queen for a trade. But continuing the game was futile because had Ushenina captured Vantika’s queen, Vantika would have recaptured with a pawn, which would have then been free to reach the endzone and promote.
“It’s an amazing feeling (beating a former women’s world champion),” beamed the Indian in an interview with FIDE’s official handle.
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WATCH: Vantika Agrawal’s interview after beating Anna Ushenina
The top players at a FIDE World Cup get a bye in the first round. Agrawal, though, had to play the first round of the event, where she had prevailed over Lala Shohradova after being held to a draw in the first game and then gaining victory in the second. Asked if playing in the first round had given her an advantage in the second, Vantika said: “Yeah, for sure. Practice, you know, there’s so much of pressure and a different atmosphere. Playing the first round gives more confidence and motivation to play better in the next rounds.”
This is Vantika’s first big FIDE event ever since her heroics at the Olympiad.
“Since then, I’ve played a lot of more open tournaments, strong tournaments. Played with many strong players. I think I’ve learned a lot and I hope I can use that experience here,” Vantika said.
