Indian Women Shine at World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2025 in LinaresLinares, Spain | 17–24 November 2025

The Indian women’s chess team delivered one of its most spirited performances on the world stage at the 2025 FIDE World Women’s Team Championship, held in Linares, Spain. Competing in the event’s debut fast classical (45+30) format—a pilot approved to be classical-rated by FIDE—India exceeded expectations, fighting their way into the quarterfinals and earning two prestigious board medals.
Despite being the lowest-ranked team in Pool B with an average rating of 2313, the squad of IM Padmini Rout, IM B. Savitha Shri, WGM P. V. Nandhidhaa, WIM Sarayu Velpula and WGM Srija Seshadri showcased remarkable resilience and depth throughout the event. The team was supported by GM Swayams Mishra (Captain & Coach), WIM Saritha M. Reddy (Coach) and Head of Delegation Adusumilli Suresh.

A Powerful Start in the Pool Stage
India stunned the chess world from the outset with a 2.5–1.5 upset victory over Ukraine in the opening round.
Highlights included:
• Padmini Rout’s compelling win over former Women’s World Champion GM Anna Ushenina.
• Nandhidhaa’s crucial threefold-repetition save against IM Nataliya Buksa.
• Savitha Shri’s strong victory over GM Natalia Zhukova.
After a difficult 0.5–3.5 loss to Georgia in Round 2, India bounced back brilliantly with a 2–2 draw against China, who fielded their legendary star GM Hou Yifan. Savitha Shri’s win on board 4 neutralized China’s top-board victory, marking one of India’s finest moments of the event.
In Round 4, India held France to another hard-fought 2–2 draw, before sealing qualification with a clutch 2.5–1.5 win over Uzbekistan in Round 5.
Srija Seshadri, in excellent form, scored the decisive victory—her second win in a row.
Finishing third in Pool B with 6 match points, India secured a well-earned place in the knockout stage.

Quarterfinals: A Fight to the Very End
India faced the young and dynamic Kazakhstan in a two-duel quarterfinal clash.
Duel 1: Kazakhstan 3 – 1 India
Kazakhstan dominated, though the highlight of the match was:
• Padmini Rout’s miraculous win against world blitz star GM Bibisara Assaubayeva in what began as a losing position.
Duel 2: India 2.5 – 1.5 Kazakhstan
India responded with grit and determination.
• Sarayu Velpula defeated FM Liya Kurmangaliyeva.
• Savitha Shri struck back with a composed victory on board 3.
• Padmini held Meruert Kamalidenova to a marathon 137-move draw.
With the duels tied 1–1, the match advanced to a 3+2 blitz tie-break.
Blitz Tie-Break: Kazakhstan 2.5 – 1.5 India
India once again pushed their opponents to the limit, but Kamalidenova’s win over Nandhidhaa on board 2 proved decisive.
Despite the narrow loss, India exited after a tremendous fight—having taken one of the tournament’s strongest teams all the way to blitz.

Individual Honors for India
Two Indian players earned bronze medals on their respective boards:
• IM Padmini Rout – Bronze (Board 1)
• IM B. Savitha Shri – Bronze (Board 4)
Both players showed exceptional consistency and fighting spirit, contributing significantly to India’s success.

A Tournament to Remember
From upsetting European heavyweights to holding China and pushing Kazakhstan into tie-breaks, the 2025 championship demonstrated the depth and potential of India’s women’s chess bench. With multiple young talents playing key roles, India’s performance in Linares reaffirmed the nation’s growing stature in world chess.
The Indian team returns home with pride, international recognition, and two board medals—having proven that even as underdogs, they remain capable of competing with the best on the world stage.