In a landmark all-Indian final at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, 19‑year‑old International Master Divya Deshmukh emerged victorious over veteran Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, winning the title in tense rapid tiebreaks.
After both classical games ended in draws—the first a fierce tactical battle and the second a precise 34‑move under-control finish—Deshmukh secured the championship by winning the second rapid game following a decisive mistake from Humpy. This climactic result came after the first rapid game also ended in a draw .
With her triumph, Divya became the FIDE Women’s World Cup Champion 2025, and also achieved her final Grandmaster norm, becoming India’s 88th Grandmaster. At just 19, she joins Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and R Vaishali as one of the few Indian women to hold the prestigious title .
This all‑Indian finale guaranteed the title would remain in India for the first time in Women’s World Cup history, highlighting the country’s growing dominance in women’s chess .
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com