Batumi, Georgia, July 28 — In a landmark moment for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy in the final of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious title and the country’s fourth female Grandmaster.
The all-India final, held in Batumi, saw both classical games end in draws, pushing the contest into rapid tiebreaks. In the first rapid game, Divya, playing with white pieces, held Humpy to a draw. In the second, with black pieces, she capitalized on a late blunder by the veteran to secure a 2.5–1.5 victory and clinch the championship.
Deshmukh’s triumph not only earned her the coveted World Cup trophy and $50,000 in prize money, but also secured her final Grandmaster norm, making her the 88th Indian to achieve the title. The win also guarantees her a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, a gateway to the Women’s World Chess Championship.
An emotional Divya, overwhelmed by the magnitude of her achievement, said, “I need time to process it. I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this tournament I didn’t even have one GM norm.”
Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand hailed the victory as a “great celebration of Indian chess,” praising both finalists for their fighting spirit and composure under pressure.
Divya’s journey to the title was marked by fearless play and strategic depth, defeating top-ranked opponents including Zhu Jiner and D Harika en route to the final. Her win over Humpy, twice her age and a two-time World Rapid Champion, underscores the emergence of a new generation of Indian chess talent on the global stage.
