Norway Chess Women 2026: Divya wins her second consecutive Armageddon

By admin May 27, 2026 0 comments

Divya Deshmukh defeated the legend Humpy Koneru in Armageddon in Round 2 of Norway Chess Women 2026.

Armageddon decides all three

All three matches in the second round were decided by Armageddon. Divya Deshmukh defeated the legend, Humpy Koneru in Armageddon. Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) and Anna Muzychuk (UKR) won a back and forth Armageddon games against Jiner Zhu (CHN) and Wenjun Ju (CHN) respectively. It could have gone either way.

Divya Deshmukh scored the biggest win of her career when she defetaed the reigning five-time Women’s World Champion – Wenjun Ju (CHN) | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Divya – Humpy: 1.5-1

FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 winner, Divya Deshmukh (2500) played four Classical rated games against the legend, Humpy Koneru (2535). Humpy won one and the remaining three ended in draws. Their fifth Classical game also ended in a draw. Divya’s wild play in the opening did not generate anything as it was quite unsound.

Divya Deshmukh drew her Classical game against Humpy Koneru | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

In Armageddon, Divya used her knights beautifully to win the game and the match | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

The handshake after Armageddon | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Jiner – Bibisara: 1-1.5

Jiner Zhu (CHN, 2546) and the reigning three-time World Blitz Women’s champion, Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2527) have played five Classical rated games against each other. Jiner won one, Bibisara two and the remaining two ended in a draw. Their sixth Classical battle at the beginning was in favor of Jiner. However, she could not capitalize. Later, Bibisara had a much better chance but she missed and the game eventually ended in a draw, forcing Armageddon.

Both Jiner and Bibisara missed their chances in the Classical game | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Bibisara won Armageddon which could have gone either player’s way | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Anna – Wenjun: 1.5-1

Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2522) and reigning five-time Women’s World Champion, Wenjun Ju (CHN, 2559) played a theoretical draw in their Classical battle.

Anna Muzychuk and Wenjun Ju played a quiet draw in the Four Knights | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

In Armageddon, Anna deviated by not trading the knight in the opening and opted to capture the e5-pawn, choosing a sharp line as she was in a must-win situation.

Anna’s bold play in Armageddon paid off as her opponent blundered in a winning position and got checkmated | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Round 2 in progress

The beautiful architecture at Deichman Bjørvika library in Oslo, Norway | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 Women results

Jiner Zhu (CHN) – Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ): 1-1.5
Divya Deshmukh – Humpy Koneru: 1.5-1
Anna Muzychuk (UKR) – Wenjun Ju (CHN): 1.5-1

Standings after Round 2

Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) is the early sole leader at 4.5/6 | Graphic: Norway Chess / Tor Nilssen & Kjetil V. Tveito

Round 3 pairings

Wenjun Ju (CHN) – Jiner Zhu (CHN)

Humpy Koneru – Anna Muzychuk (UKR)

Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) – Divya Deshmukh

Open and Women pairings of all rounds | Graphic: Norway Chess

Format

6 players will take part in the Tournament.

The Tournament is a double-round event with Armageddon.

The Tournament consists of 10 rounds.

Berger tables will be used for the pairings.

Default time is 15 minutes.

Time Control

Each player will have 120 minutes on the clock with an increment of 10 seconds starting from move 41. The time control for the Armageddon game: white has 10 minutes and black has 7 minutes with an increment for both players of 1 second per move, starting from move 41.

Draw by Mutual Agreement

Players are not allowed to agree to a draw until at least 30 moves have been made by each player. This rule does not apply to Armageddon games.

Armageddon

If the classical game is drawn, an Armageddon game will be played. It shall start within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the classical game. The player with White pieces will continue with White in Armageddon. If the Armageddon game is drawn, black will win.