Who is Divya Deshmukh? Meet the first Indian woman to win FIDE Women's World Cup Champion title

Time of India

5 days ago

India has a new chess queen! Divya Deshmukh, the teenage sensation from Nagpur, created history by becoming the FIDE Women's World Cup Champion 2025. With this grand win, she has become the first Indian woman ever to win this prestigious title, marking a monumental moment for Indian chess on the global stage.
In a nail-biting final held in Batumi, Georgia, Divya Deshmukh faced off against Indian chess legend Koneru Humpy, who is also a world chess champion in rapid format. After both classical games ended in tense draws, the match went into the tie-break rounds.
The turning point came in the second rapid tie-break game, where Divya took full advantage of a small mistake made by the 38-year-old Humpy in the 54th move. With nerves of steel and sharp tactical play, the 19-year-old sealed her victory and couldn't hold back her tears. This triumph made her the FIDE Women's World Cup champion, a title every chess player dreams of.
Divya Becomes India's 88th Grandmaster and 4th Woman GM
𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐲𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐮𝐤𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐅𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 🏆.#FIDEWorldCup | #DivyaDeshmukh | #HumpyKoneru pic.twitter.com/CubWCPTlLX
Thanks to this incredible performance, Divya Deshmukh has also earned the title of Grandmaster, becoming India's 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this feat. She now stands alongside other iconic Indian women Grandmasters like Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali.
With her finals appearance, Divya has also qualified for the Women's Candidates Tournament, where the winner gets a chance to challenge reigning women's world chess champion, Ju Wenjun of China.
Early Life and Education of Divya Deshmukh
Born on 9 December 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Divya was raised in an academically driven household. Her parents, Dr. Jitendra and Dr. Namratha Deshmukh, both medical professionals, always encouraged a balanced lifestyle filled with discipline and ambition.
Divya studied at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, a respected CBSE school in Nagpur. She showed an early love for chess, and by the age of 10, she was already representing India in global age-group competitions. Despite a busy travel schedule, she never let her studies fall behind and consistently performed well in school.
Balancing Chess with Academics
Unlike many young prodigies who abandon formal education, Divya chose to continue her learning journey. After completing Class 12 with distinction, she opted for distance education to focus on her growing chess career.
As of 2025, she is pursuing online courses in sports psychology, performance science, and data analytics in chess, proving that her learning spirit goes beyond the 64 squares of a chessboard. She believes this knowledge will give her a psychological edge and a deeper understanding of the game.
Divya Deshmukh's Impressive Chess Career So Far
Over the past few years, Divya Deshmukh has made headlines with her consistent performances:
In 2023, she won the Asian Continental Women's Championship.
At the Tata Steel Women's Rapid Chess 2023, she stunned everyone by finishing ahead of the reigning world chess champion Ju Wenjun, despite entering as a last-minute replacement and the lowest seed.
In 2024, Divya dominated the World U-20 Girls Chess Championship, finishing undefeated and claiming first place with a near-perfect score of 10/11.
These accomplishments are a clear sign that Divya Deshmukh is not just a one-time wonder but a long-term force in global chess.
Divya Deshmukh, India's Brightest Chess Star
With her victory at the FIDE Women's World Cup, Divya Deshmukh has become a symbol of the new generation of Indian chess – fearless, focused, and fiercely talented. Her journey from a young girl with a chessboard to the world's chess champion is truly inspirational.
As the world now turns its eyes towards her next move, Divya remains grounded, committed to growing both as a chess player and a student of the game. Whether it's a chess piece or a course module, she handles both with equal grace and intelligence.
Divya Deshmukh, the FIDE Women's World Cup Champion, has proven that age is no barrier to success when there is passion, discipline, and sheer dedication. By defeating the experienced Koneru Humpy, she has opened a new chapter in India's chess legacy.
With her Grandmaster title, academic pursuits, and rising fame, Divya is now the face of modern Indian chess. She is not just a champion of the present but a promise for the future.
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