Baku, July 28: In a groundbreaking moment for Indian chess, Divya Deshmukh has become the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, scripting history with her triumph over compatriot and legend Koneru Humpy in a dramatic final held in Baku.
The 19-year-old prodigy from Nagpur defeated Humpy 1.5–0.5 in the rapid tie-breaks after two tightly contested classical games ended in draws over the weekend. With this victory, Divya not only clinched the prestigious title but also earned her final Grandmaster norm, making her the fourth Indian woman and the 88th Indian overall to achieve the Grandmaster title.
The classical games saw both players fight toe-to-toe. In the first game, Divya built a strong advantage with the white pieces, but Humpy managed to neutralize the pressure. The second game was evenly matched, with Divya admitting she had “wandered into trouble” but held firm to force the tie-break.
In the rapid segment, Divya’s calm and precision prevailed. After drawing the first game, she capitalized on critical blunders by Humpy under time pressure in the second to seal the match and the championship.
“It was fate,” said a visibly emotional Divya after her win. “I thought maybe I could get a GM norm here. But I ended up becoming a Grandmaster.”
The odds were stacked against her — Humpy, a two-time World Rapid Champion and world No. 5 in classical chess, was the favorite. In contrast, Divya entered the tournament as world No. 18 in classical, No. 22 in rapid, and No. 18 in blitz.
Divya’s win marks the culmination of a meteoric rise. In 2024, she won the World Junior Championship and played a decisive role in India’s gold medal triumph at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she also claimed an individual gold on her board.
