International Master Divya Deshmukh displayed composure and tactical awareness to hold Grandmaster Koneru Humpy to a well-earned draw on Sunday, forcing the final into a rapid tie-break showdown. The highly anticipated all-Indian final now moves to faster formats, with both players set to battle it out in shorter time controls to determine the champion.

After missing out on opportunities in the first classical game, Divya was far more assured in the second encounter, where she handled the black pieces with maturity against Humpy’s Queen's Pawn opening. Despite Humpy enjoying the early advantage of the bishop pair out of the opening, Divya responded by maneuvering her knights to ideal squares, effectively neutralising White’s attacking prospects.

As the game transitioned into a balanced middlegame, both players exchanged minor pieces followed by a trade of rooks, leading to a queen-and-minor-piece endgame. Humpy attempted to shake the equilibrium by sacrificing a pawn, hoping to create imbalances. However, the tactic backfired as her once-powerful bishop pair disappeared, leaving her with only a slight edge.