The triumphant win wore Divya Deshmukh down, requiring a notable amount of energy and resilience. She expressed this in a candid conversation.
19-Year-Old Divya Deshmukh Makes History as First Indian Woman to Win FIDE Women's Chess World Cup and Achieve Grandmaster Title
Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old chess prodigy from Nagpur, has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the prestigious FIDE Women's Chess World Cup and achieve the rank of Grandmaster.
The tournament, held in Batumi on July 28, 2025, saw Divya Deshmukh bypass the conventional process of earning three norms in multiple events. Instead, she achieved the title in a single event, having never secured any Grandmaster norms beforehand[1][2][3].
Divya's journey to the top was not easy. She faced tough competition, including the reigning World Rapid Women's Champion and fellow Indian GM Koneru Humpy, India's first female Grandmaster, in the final. In the quarterfinals, she overcame the second Indian GM woman, Harika Dronavalli[1][2].
Divya's success at the World Cup has qualified her for the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, bringing her closer to challenging for the Women's World Chess Championship[1][4].
Born in 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Divya has an impressive career. She has won national, Asian, and World age-group titles, multiple gold medals at the Women's Chess Olympiad, and the World Junior Girls title[1][4]. She also regularly competes in mixed-gender tournaments, demonstrating her competitiveness against male Grandmasters, a rarity among female players[3].
Divya's mother played a crucial role in her success. She advised Divya to have confidence in herself and manage her time wisely. Divya believes that all she can do is give her best and not control the results[1].
The quarterfinals match against GM Dronavalli Harika went to a tiebreak after two classical games ended in draws. Divya won the title by overcoming Humpy in a tie-breaker after two classical games ended in draws[1].
Divya considers her title win as possibly being destiny. She expressed that the final was incredibly difficult due to the pressure, nerves, and the feeling of not wanting to go back down after coming so far. However, she was motivated by beating an opponent like GM Dronavalli Harika in a tough quarterfinals and by her mother's advice[1].
Tan Zhongyi, one of the strongest players in the world, was defeated by Divya in the semifinals. Divya felt disappointed after losing the second match but was motivated to fight due to a good position at the opening[1].
FIDE announced and shared Divya's win on social media. Divya considers the Grandmaster title as something that would have eventually come, making the fact that both the title win and GM title happened at the same time all the more special[1][4].
Divya's rapid ascent at just 19 years old signals a promising future in world chess. Her victory is a testament to her hard work, determination, and natural talent.
[1] The Hindu
[2] Chessbase India
[3] Firstpost
[4] India Today
In the realm of Indian sports, Divya Deshmukh's dominance extends beyond chess as she aspires to excel in cricket and tennis as well.
Despite her recent grand achievement in chess, Divya believes that her ambition lies not just in conquering the chessboard, but also in making an impact in other sports like cricket and tennis.
