Im hoping this is just the start: Divya after winning FIDE Womens World Cup
Little did the 19-year-old from Nagpur know that she would beat some of the best and biggest names in the sport to achieve three major milestones in a span of around three weeks — secure a spot in the Candidates tournament next year, win the prestigious title and in the process, automatically become a Grandmaster.
While becoming a GM is one of the toughest things in chess as a player needs to earn three GM norms in FIDE-approved tournaments events and cross the 2500 rating, things fell in place for the talented Nagpur player.
FIDE has a rule that the winners of certain elite competitions can avoid the usual norm-and-rating route and become GMs directly. The Women's World Cup is one of those FIDE events where the winner straightaway becomes a GM if not already.
'I need time to process it (victory). It think it was fate me getting the Grandmaster title this way because I didn't even have one norm (coming into the event) and all I was thinking of was 'Oh, when can I get my norm', and now I'm a Grandmaster so…," said Deshmukh, who beat compatriot Koneru Humpy to emerge winner.
The youngster had her mother, a doctor, by her side in her moment of glory.
She got emotional soon after beating Humpy, a two-time World Rapid champion and embraced her mother in a heartfelt hug, sobbing all along.
'It's hard for me to speak right now. It definitely means a lot, but of course there's a lot more to achieve," said Deshmukh. 'I'm hoping this is just the start." The achievement made Deshmukh only the fourth Indian woman to become a GM after Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and R. Vaishali. PTI AM AM AT AT
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July 28, 2025, 19:00 IST
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