Batumi (Georgia), July 28 — Divya Deshmukh scripted history on Monday by becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025. She triumphed over compatriot Koneru Humpy with a 2.5-1.5 victory in the tie-breaks held in Batumi, Georgia.
This monumental win not only earned Divya the coveted World Cup crown but also secured her final Grandmaster (GM) norm, making her India’s 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve the GM title. The other three are Koneru Humpy, R. Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli.
The final clash saw both Indian stars tied 1-1 after two classical games, pushing the match into tie-breaks. Divya capitalized on a late-game blunder by Humpy, who mistakenly captured the f-pawn, turning the tide decisively in Divya’s favour.
Following her historic feat, Divya expressed disbelief and gratitude. “I think it was fate that I got the GM title this way,” she said. “Before this tournament, I didn’t even have one norm. It definitely means a lot. There’s a lot more to achieve.”
The 18-year-old added, “I definitely need to learn endgames. I’m pretty sure at some point I messed it up. I need time to process it.”
Divya clinched the gold medal, Humpy settled for silver, while China’s Tan Zhongyi bagged the bronze. Earlier, both games in the classical format between Divya and Humpy had ended in hard-fought draws.
With this breakthrough, Divya Deshmukh not only carved a place in Indian chess history but also signaled the rise of a new generation of champions poised to dominate the global chessboard.
