In a landmark victory for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur clinched the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup 2025, defeating veteran Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tiebreak during an all-Indian final in Batumi, Georgia, on July 28. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the achievement as a “proud moment” for Nagpur and the state, announcing that the government will felicitate the newly crowned Grandmaster for her historic feat.

“It’s a moment of great joy that Nagpur and Maharashtra’s daughter, Divya Deshmukh, has won the Women’s World Cup and earned the Grandmaster title as the youngest to claim this prestigious international honor,” Fadnavis said at a Nagpur press conference, also congratulating Humpy for her stellar performance. He emphasized the global spectacle of the all-Indian final, noting, “The moves of these two players captivated the chess world, marking an unprecedented moment for India.” In a video call, Fadnavis personally lauded Divya’s grit, adding that her victory in her second World Cup attempt qualifies her for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, making her India’s fourth female Grandmaster after Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R. Vaishali, and the nation’s 88th overall.

Divya’s journey was remarkable. Seeded 15th among 107 players from 46 federations, she outplayed top talents, including China’s former World Champion Tan Zhongyi in the semifinals, to reach the final. After two drawn classical games, the match against Humpy, the world No. 5 and reigning World Rapid Champion, went to rapid tiebreaks. The first game ended in a draw, but in the second, Divya, playing Black, capitalized on Humpy’s time-pressure errors, securing a 1.5–0.5 victory. “I think it was fate,” Divya said post-match, reflecting on bypassing traditional Grandmaster norms through the World Cup win, which grants automatic GM status. “I need to learn endgames,” she admitted candidly, acknowledging a missed opportunity in the first tiebreak.

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Her family erupted in joy. Aunt Smita Deshmukh told reporters, “Divya has made our family, Nagpur, and India proud. Years of hard work by her parents have paid off. Our tears of joy won’t stop.” Grandmother Dr. Kamal Deshmukh added, “This feels unbelievable. Divya’s dedication is unmatched.” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a video call, called her win a “moment of pride for the nation,” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the “historic” all-Indian final, wishing both players future success.

Born to doctors Namratha and Jitendra in Nagpur, Divya, a Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir alumna, began chess at five, becoming national Under-7 champion by seven. With 35 medals (23 gold), including Olympiad golds in 2020 and 2024, and the 2024 World Junior Championship, she’s India’s No. 2 female player with a 2608 performance rating. Her 2024 stand against sexism in chess further cemented her as a role model.

The $50,000 prize, a Candidates spot, and the Grandmaster title mark Divya’s ascent as a global chess star, inspiring a new generation in India’s chess powerhouse.

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