Records Divya Deshmukh made by winning FIDE Women's Chess World Cup 2025 title
By winning the tournament, Divya Deshmukh also earned the chess Grandmaster title.
Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh scripted history by winning the prestigious FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, defeating her Indian compatriot Koneru Humpy in a rapid tie-break on July 28 (Monday), in the Georgian city of Batumi. En route this historic victory, the 19-year-old wrote and rewrote records.
Seeded 15th in the tournament, Divya wasn’t among the title contenders but entered the final after defeating two grandmasters and faced another in the title match.
Game 1, played on Saturday, ended in a draw with Humpy starting with the Black pieces. The second game, held on Sunday, also ended in a draw. However, on Monday, after drawing the first rapid game, Divya took advantage on a rare lapse by Humpy and clinched the second rapid game with the Black pieces securing a 2.5–1.5 win in the final.
Also Read: Divya Deshmukh defeats Koneru Humpy to clinch Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 title
What made the final take a dramatic turn was the compelling battle of generations—a 19-year-old Divya facing the experienced 38-year-old [exactly double her age] Koneru Humpy in a battle to become the first-ever Indian to lift this title.
By making it to the summit clash of FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup, both Divya and Koneru Humpy also secured their spots in the Candidates Tournament 2026, where the winner will earn the right to challenge China’s Ju Wenjun, the reigning Women’s World Champion.
In this article, let us look at the records Divya created or rewrote by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup tile.
Records Divya Deshmukh made at FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025
First Indian to win FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup
Divya Deshmukh made history by becoming the first-ever Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. She first created waves by defeating China’s former world champion Tan Zhongyi to reach the final, a first for any Indian.
In the final, she emerged victorious in an all-Indian battle against reigning two-time Women’s Rapid World Champion Koneru Humpy.
Also Read: Who is Divya Deshmukh? Five interesting facts to know about Indian chess history-maker
Fourth Indian Woman Grandmaster, 88th Indian overall
With this win, Divya also earned the very prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title and became:
- The fourth Indian woman to achieve the GM title, after Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R. Vaishali
- The 88th Grandmaster overall from India
- The 44th woman in the world to recieve the GM titlle
Youngest Women’s Chess World Cup champion
Divya also became the youngest player ever to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. Speaking of the youngest Women’s World Chess Championship title winner, that record is held by Hou Yifan of China, who claimed the title at just 16 years old.
An interesting point to remember, her opponent Koneru Humpy was once the youngest Grandmaster in the world when she achieved the title at 15 years old in 2002. Hou Yifan later broke that record by becoming a GM at 14 years and 6 months.
Also Read: A look at four female chess grandmasters from India
Eighth teenager to become Woman Grandmaster
Divya’s victory also made her only the eighth female teenager in history to earn the Grandmaster title. Humpy was the first Indian to do so at the age of 15. The other teenage GM winners are:
- Judit Polgar t age 15 in 1992 (Hungary)
- Koneru Humpy at age 15 in 2002 (India)
- Alexandra Kosteniuk at age 19 in 2004 (Switzerland)
- Kateryna Lagno at age 16 in 2007 (Russia)
- Hou Yifan at age 14 in 2008 (China)
- Lei Tingjie at age 19 in 2017 (China)
- Aleksandra Goryachkina at age 19 in 2018
- Divya Deshmukh at age 19 in 2025 (India)
Who won FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 Final?
Divya Deshmukh, 19, won the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, defeating her Indian compatriot Koneru Humpy.
How many records did Divya Deshmukh make at Women’s Chess World Cup 2025?
On her way to victory at the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup, Divya Deshmukh set several records, including becoming the first Indian to win the tournament.
How many Indian women have Grandmaster title?
Only four Indian women have the prestigious Grandmaster title—Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Harika Dronavalli.
Who is the youngest Women’s Chess World Cup champion?
At 19 years 7 months 19 days, Divya Deshmukh has become the youngest player to win the title.
Has any Indian previously won the Women’s Chess World Cup title?
No, Divya is the first-ever Indian to win this prestigious title.
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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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