Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old chess player, has been crowned the FIDE Women’s World Cup champion in Batumi, Georgia, following a tiebreak victory against Koneru Humpy. This win is historic and recognizes Divya as India’s fourth woman grandmaster.
The final was a clash between the youthful Divya and Humpy, who was the first Indian woman to achieve the grandmaster title. Only two other Indian women had previously achieved this high level of distinction.
The games were closely contested. Both classical games ended in draws, with Divya having a favorable position in the first game while playing with White pieces. Despite this advantage, a slip allowed Humpy to escape with a draw. The match culminated in rapid tiebreaks held on Monday.
Despite being less experienced in comparison to Humpy’s extensive experience and mastery in the rapid format, Divya achieved a sensational win. She took control in the second tiebreak game, outplaying the experienced grandmaster to secure the title.
On the official FIDE broadcast, Divya shared her thoughts: “It definitely means a lot. There’s a lot more to achieve. I’m hoping this is just the start.”
Beyond personal glory, this victory represents a significant achievement for Indian chess. She previously won the World Junior Girls’ Championship. Additionally, she played a key role in India’s historic gold medal in the women’s team event at last year’s Chess Olympiad in Budapest, also earning an individual gold medal on her board.
Divya has made her mark, forging a new legacy in Indian chess and surpassing the achievements of figures such as Humpy.