In a proud moment for India, 19-year-old chess player Divya Deshmukh made history by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup. She defeated India’s top-ranked player, Koneru Humpy, in the rapid tiebreaks of the final held in Batumi, Georgia on Monday.
Divya was ranked 15th at the beginning of the tournament. Despite that, she played fearlessly and beat many strong players to reach the final. In the final match, both classical games ended in a draw, which led to rapid tiebreak games.
🇮🇳 Divya Deshmukh defeats Humpy Koneru 🇮🇳 to win the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup 🏆#FIDEWorldCup @DivyaDeshmukh05 pic.twitter.com/KzO2MlC0FC
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 28, 2025
The first rapid game was a draw. In the second game, Divya played with the Black pieces and stayed calm under pressure. Humpy, who is 38 years old, made a few mistakes in the endgame, and Divya used that chance to win the match.
With this win, Divya not only became the World Cup champion but also earned her final Grandmaster (GM) norm, officially becoming a Grandmaster. She is now the fourth Indian woman and the 88th Indian overall to achieve this title.
Divya’s performance stood out because of her strong preparation and fearless playing style. Even though she wasn’t one of the favourites, she proved her talent and showed that the new generation of Indian chess players is ready to take on the world.
At just 19, Divya Deshmukh has made history. Her victory is a major achievement for her career and a proud moment for Indian chess.
