Indian GM Divya Deshmukh reveals her next goal after historic win at Women's Chess World Cup 2025
(Courtesy : @FIDE_Chess/Twitter)
Divya Deshmukh also achieved the title of Chess Grandmaster by winning the Women’s World Cup 2025.
In the ever-evolving history of Indian chess, Divya Deshmukh etched her name in golden letters, becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup, and she did it at just 19 years old.
The young sensation from India lifted the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup title last week in Batumi, after defeating none other than Indian chess legend Koneru Humpy in a gripping all-Indian final.
Also Read: Records Divya Deshmukh made by winning FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 title
“It’s hard for me to speak now,” Divya said, overcome with emotion and tears moments after her historic victory.
The first two classical games were drawn, pushing the battle into tiebreaks. Playing with black pieces, Divya clinched the win 1.5–0.5, securing not just the title, but also her first Grandmaster norm. In the process, she became the youngest-ever winner of the tournament.
It marked her first Grandmaster title, becoming India’s 4th female Grandmaster and 88th overall from the nation. The 19-year-old won the first prize of USD 50,000 (roughly Rs. 43 lakhs).
Also Read: Who is Divya Deshmukh? Five interesting facts to know about Indian chess history-maker
All of these are some big achievements for a chess player, but as Divya herself said in an interview with FIDE, there’s a lot more to achieve.
“Of course, this means a lot, but there is a lot more to achieve, so I am hoping that this is just the start,” she said after the victory in Batumi.
Being the finalists of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, both Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The winner of the eight-player ultimate chess battle will challenge the current World Chess Champion, Ju Wenjun from China.
Moreover, Divya also broke into the top 15 in the FIDE women’s world rankings. She gained 15 rating points to reach 2478, climbing three spots to sit at No. 15 globally.
She joins two other Indian players in the top 15, Koneru Humpy (2535), ranked 6th, and D. Harika (2487), ranked 12th.
How much did Divya Deshmukh receive as prize money at the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup?
Divya Deshmukh received USD 50,000 (approx INR 43 Lakh) as first prize.
What is Divya Deshmukh’s current FIDE ranking?
According to the latest FIDE ranking, Divya sits at 15th place.
What did Divya Deshmukh say after the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup win?
After winning the title, Divya said, “This definitely means a lot, but there is a lot more to achieve, so I am hoping that this is just the start.”
Who is the current Women’s World Chess Champion?
Ju Wenjun of China is the current Women’s World Chess Champion.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.
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