Divya Deshmukh Makes History by Winning FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025

In a groundbreaking achievement, Divya Deshmukh has won the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, becoming the first Indian woman to do so. Her victory not only secured her the prestigious title but also completed her final Grandmaster norm, making her India's 88th Grandmaster. The final match against Koneru Humpy was intense, culminating in a tie-break where Divya emerged victorious. Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledges the importance of continuous learning and expresses hope for future accomplishments. This victory marks a significant milestone in Indian chess, inspiring many young players.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 29, 2025, 01:59 IST

Historic Victory for Divya Deshmukh

Batumi [Georgia], July 28: India's rising star, Divya Deshmukh, has made headlines by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025.

In a remarkable achievement, Divya became the first Indian woman to clinch the Women’s World Cup title, defeating Koneru Humpy with a score of 2.5-1.5 during the tie-breaks on Monday in Batumi.

This victory not only earned her the prestigious World Cup crown but also allowed her to complete her final Grandmaster (GM) norm, officially making her the 88th Grandmaster from India.

A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Humpy made a critical error by capturing the f pawn, which shifted the momentum in favor of Divya as the contest neared its conclusion.

After both players ended the two classical games tied at 1-1, they proceeded to tie-breaks on Monday to determine the champion.

Divya now joins the ranks of India's female Grandmasters, following the legacy of Humpy, R. Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli.

Reflecting on her achievement, Divya expressed that while she recognizes there is much more to achieve, she believes her Grandmaster title was destined. She stated, “I definitely need to learn endgames. I am pretty sure at some point I messed it up. I need time to process it. I think it was fate that I get the GM title this way. Before this tournament, I didn’t even have one norm. It definitely means a lot. There’s a lot more to achieve. I’m hoping this is just the start,” as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

In the final standings, Divya secured the gold medal, while Humpy took home the silver, and China's Tan Zhongy finished with the bronze.

The opening game of the FIDE Women’s World Cup final saw both Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh engage in a tough battle, ultimately resulting in a draw, with the scoreboard reading 1/2 – 1/2.

The second round also concluded in a stalemate, with both players again settling for a draw, maintaining the tension in the championship.