In a historic triumph that has left the chess world buzzing, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh has become the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup. The teenager from Nagpur pulled off a stunning upset by defeating her more experienced compatriot, Koneru Humpy, in the final held in Baku, Azerbaijan on Monday, July 28.
The championship showdown turned into an all-Indian battle that was as tense as it was thrilling. The two classical games played over the weekend (July 26–27) ended in hard-fought draws, with both players displaying top-tier strategy and composure. In the first game, Divya had the upper hand but allowed Humpy to fight back. The second game was equally intense, with Divya admitting she got into trouble “for no apparent reason” but managed to hang on.
It all came down to the rapid tie-breaks — and that’s where Divya flipped the script.
After a draw in the first rapid game, the pressure mounted. In the second, Humpy — a two-time World Rapid Champion and current world No. 5 — faltered under time pressure. Divya seized the moment, capitalized on critical errors, and closed out the game with nerves of steel.
With this victory, Divya not only lifts the 2025 Women’s World Cup trophy but also earns the Grandmaster (GM) title — becoming India’s fourth woman GM and the 88th overall in the country’s history.
“It was fate,” said an emotional Divya after the win. “Before the tournament, I was just hoping to earn a GM norm. I never imagined I would become a Grandmaster here.”
Her win is even more impressive considering the odds stacked against her. Ranked only No. 18 in classical, No. 22 in rapid, and No. 18 in blitz on the FIDE women’s list, Divya came into the final as the underdog against the legendary Humpy.
But this isn’t the first time Divya has turned heads. Just last year, she won the World Junior Championship and was a key part of India’s gold-winning team at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she also clinched individual gold on her board.
With this World Cup win, Divya Deshmukh has officially arrived — not just as a rising star, but as a trailblazing champion rewriting the history of Indian chess.
