Vaishali Knocks Out Yip, Top Seeds Advance at 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup

Photo courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE

India’s GM Vaishali Rameshbabu knocked IM Carissa Yip, the last American standing, out of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup in the third round. Yip went down fighting in a 4–2 loss to Indian GM Vaishali Rameshbabu that saw Yip unable to convert a significant advantage in each of Monday’s first two tie-breaker games before momentum swung back to Vaishali.

The first classical game saw an interesting choice from Yip, who essentially accepted an early draw offer with the white pieces:

Yip was able to create more double-edged play in the second classical game, but not without a few hiccups. Vaishali quickly took an initiative with the white pieces that likely made Yip question her decision to take the early draw on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE

But, after some impatient decisions from Vaishali, it was suddenly Yip fighting for a win, as WGM Sabina Foisor annotates:

Both players likely felt relieved after escaping the second classical game, and, with the same colors in the first tie-breaker, they were each eager to each improve on Sunday’s outing. But it was Yip who managed to create early energy with a rare surprise of an early … Ke8-f8 in the Italian Game, and her advantage only grew from there.

After being unable to win her first tie-breaker, Yip again gained a nice position early. This time, the advantage was less concrete, and, after missing one moment to clarify by removing one of Black’s knights, Vaishali was again able to narrowly escape:

With the time controls shortened from 15 minutes to 10 (still with only 10-second increment per turn), it was Vaishali’s turn to pounce.

Unable to create an advantage in the return game, Yip had to invest material into avoiding a perpetual before eventually losing the final game, clinching the match 4–2 for Vaishali.

Carissa Yip (and her coach, GM Awonder Liang) were all smiles for the first week of the Women's World Cup, with Yip gaining rating as well as experience in knockout matches. (Photos courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

Carissa Yip (and her coach, GM Awonder Liang) were all smiles for the first week of the Women's World Cup, with Yip gaining rating as well as experience in knockout matches. (Photos courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

Yip had winning chances in the second classical game and the only winning chances in the first two rapid playoffs, capping off a disappointing exit with what should feel like a strong moral victory, at least. Yip's live classical FIDE rating is up to 2463, putting her in the top 20 in the women's world rankings. With roughly 20 points separating Yip from players like Vaishali, who tied for second in last year's FIDE Women's Candidates tournament, the match indeed looked like a battle of equals.

Vaishali advances to the fourth round (Photo courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

Vaishali goes on to face IM Meruert Kamalidenova of Kazakhstan, who eliminated Russian WGM Anna Shukhman 1½–½ after eliminating the defending Women’s World Cup champion GM Aleksandra Goryachkina in the previous round.

Of other matches to “go the distance” with multiple tie-breakers, 20-year-old IM Yuxin Song of China defeated GM Anna Muzychuk 3½–2½, Georgian GM Nana Dzagnidze bested Russian GM Valentina Gunina 4–2, Indian GM Harika Dronavali defeated Greek IM Stavroula Tsolakidou 4–2, and GM Kateryna Lagno knocked out IM Vantika Agrawal of India 3½–2½. All results can be found here.

GM Lei Tingjie (L) is 4/4 in Batumi so far, eliminating former Women's World Champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria in round 3 (Photo courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

While Tuesday is the first official rest day for the tournament, every remaining player has had at least one day off. All the players who did not get a first-round bye won at least one of their first two matches “in regulation” without requiring tie-breakers except for Omonova, who defeated French IM Sophie Milliet 3½–2½ and Polish IM Anna Kashlinskaya 3–1 in her first two rounds. But thanks to her 1½–½ victory over WFM Elnaz Kaliakhmet, Omonova now gets a second consecutive day off before her clash against overall top seed GM Lei Tingjie.

Umida Omonova's upset quest continues Wednesday against top-seeded GM Lei Tingjie (Photo courtesy of Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

After defeating the 81st-seeded Kaliakhmet, Omonova is now the lowest-seeded player (80th) still standing. But Lei is currently 4/4 after defeating Argentinian WGM Candela Guecamburu 2–0 in round 2 and former Women’s World Champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2–0 in this round, demonstrating that the top seed is here for fighting chess.

With only 16 players remaining, the field consists of 10 GMs, 5 IMs, and one WIM (Omonova). Play resumes at 6:20 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, July 16.