Divya Deshmukh Crowned Champion and Becomes India’s Fourth Woman Grandmaster at 19
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Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old chess player from Nagpur, scripted history on July 28, 2025, by becoming the FIDE Women’s World Cup champion. In a gripping final held in Batumi, Georgia, she defeated India’s first female Grandmaster, Koneru Humpy, in the tie-breaks after two classical games ended in draws.
The win was deeply emotional. Divya broke into tears immediately after the final game and hugged her mother, overwhelmed by the achievement.
By winning the World Cup, Divya also earned her final norm needed to be awarded the Grandmaster title—an elite milestone. She is now India’s fourth female Grandmaster, joining the ranks of Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R. Vaishali. Additionally, she becomes India’s 88th Grandmaster overall.
Her journey to the title included tough matches against top players. She defeated former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi in the semifinals and beat Zhu Jiner and Harika Dronavalli in earlier rounds.
Divya’s former coach, Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan, praised her remarkable calmness under pressure, likening it to the composure of legendary cricketer M.S. Dhoni. Her success also earned widespread praise back home—Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra leaders lauded her achievement after her earlier upset over world No. 1 Hou Yifan at a separate event in London.
As the first Indian woman ever to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, Divya’s achievement marks a milestone for Indian chess. Her triumph boosts India’s presence on the global stage and shows what young talents can achieve with hard work and belief.
