Divya Deshmukh Defeats Humpy to Win Women’s World Cup, Becomes Grandmaster

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In a historic triumph for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh defeated veteran Grandmaster Koneru Humpy to win the 2025 FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. With this victory, Divya has officially become a Grandmaster, making her the fourth Indian woman and the 88th Indian overall to achieve this prestigious title.

The final clash between the two Indian stars ended in dramatic tie-breaks after the classical games resulted in draws. In the first rapid tie-break game, Divya held her ground with white pieces. In the second game, she capitalized on Humpy’s inaccuracies and sealed the win, demonstrating maturity and composure far beyond her years.

Divya’s journey to the final included a series of impressive wins. She notably defeated China’s world number six Zhu Jiner and former world champion Tan Zhongyi, becoming the first Indian woman to reach the Women’s World Cup final. Her stellar performance also secured her a spot in the upcoming Women’s Candidates Tournament.

Speaking after the win, Divya said, “This means a lot. There is a lot more to achieve, and I hope this is just the beginning.”

In the semifinal round, both Divya and Humpy played cautiously in their first classical games, settling for solid draws before advancing to the next round. Remarkably, Divya entered the tournament without a single Grandmaster norm but emerged as the champion and earned the final norm required for the GM title.

Her achievement has drawn praise from the Indian chess community and beyond. Analysts have called it a defining moment for women’s chess in India, as it marks a generational shift and signals a strong future for the country in international competitions.

Divya Deshmukh’s World Cup title and Grandmaster title are being hailed as landmark accomplishments. Her journey from a promising junior to a world-class professional has set a new benchmark for young talents in Indian chess. With a Grandmaster title now in hand and a ticket to the Candidates Tournament secured, the chess world is watching as Divya prepares to take on even greater challenges ahead.