19-year-old Divya Deshmukh beats veteran Koneru Humpy in the tiebreaks to become the FIDE Women's World Cup Champion 2025 and become India's 88th Grandmaster. The clash of generations was a significant moment in Indian chess history.
By making it to the finals, Divya earned a spot in the Candidates Tournament. She now earns her Grandmaster title straight out of the gate and becomes the first Indian to win the FIDE Women's World Cup.
Divya’s victory is being hailed as a defining milestone in Indian chess, especially in the women's circuit. Known for her aggressive style and sharp preparation, she has been a rising star for years, and this victory solidifies her arrival at the highest level. Beating a legend like Koneru Humpy, who herself has been a trailblazer for Indian women’s chess, adds even greater weight to the achievement.
The triumph marks a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, as Divya Deshmukh now takes her place among the elite of world chess, carrying forward India’s growing legacy on the 64 squares.
Divya Deshmukh's emotional reaction after securing FIDE Women's World Cup Champion 2025 title
19-year-old Divya Dehmukh spoke about her victory by saying, "It was fate, before the tournament, I was thinking that I could maybe earn a Grandmaster norm here. And at the end, I became a Grandmaster."
After her win, Divya was emotional and then later on hugged her mother. Divya's legacy is one of breaking barriers, setting benchmarks, and being a quiet force that changed the face of Indian chess forever.
