Divya Deshmukh Triumphs at FIDE Women’s World Cup, Becomes Grandmaster

In a stunning display of skill and determination, Divya Deshmukh clinched the FIDE Women’s World Cup title after a dramatic tiebreaker against Koneru Humpy. This victory not only crowned her as the champion but also earned her the prestigious title of Grandmaster. Divya's journey in chess has been remarkable, having previously won the World Junior Chess Championship and contributed to India's success at the Chess Olympiad. Her emotional win marks a significant milestone in her career, hinting at a bright future ahead in the world of chess.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2025, 16:31 IST

Historic Victory for Divya Deshmukh

Batumi, Georgia: In a thrilling conclusion to the FIDE Women’s World Cup, Divya Deshmukh emerged victorious after a nail-biting tiebreaker against World Number 5, Koneru Humpy, on July 28. Overwhelmed with emotion, Divya embraced her mother and shed tears of joy. "I need some time to fully grasp this victory. It feels like destiny that I achieved my grandmaster title in this manner. There’s so much more I aspire to accomplish; I hope this is merely the beginning," she expressed during her post-match interview.

Divya Deshmukh 🇮🇳 winner of the World Chess Cup and also now a Grandmaster!pic.twitter.com/UNmgiq33qq

— Chessdom (@chessdom) July 28, 2025

As a representative of the new generation of chess players, Divya has quickly made a name for herself in the chess community, recognized as one of the sport's most promising talents. In 2024, she was crowned the World Junior Chess Champion in the girls' category and played a crucial role in leading the Indian team to gold at the recent Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, where she also secured individual gold.

Both Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy reached the finals by defeating their Chinese rivals. In the semifinals, Divya triumphed over Tan Zhongyi with a score of 1.5-0.5, while Humpy bested Lei Tingjie by a margin of 5-3. The first game between Humpy and Lei ended in a draw at 0.5-0.5, as did the initial semifinal game between Tan and Divya. In the bronze medal match, Tan Zhongyi claimed victory against her compatriot Lei Tingjie with a score of 1-0.