FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup Final: Divya Deshmukh Makes History
Divya Deshmukh has scripted chess history on July 28, 2025, by becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. In a thrilling all-Indian final, Divya defeated veteran Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, showcasing remarkable preparation, nerves of steel, and tactical brilliance across multiple days and rapid tie-break games.
The tournament, held in Baku, saw Divya overcome several top seeds, including top-10 international players, before the epic final showdown against Humpy. The final match was intense and fluctuated, with Divya holding her own in the classical games before clinching victory in the rapid playoff, demonstrating her versatility under pressure and deep positional understanding.
This victory is a defining moment for Indian chess—Divya, still only 19, cements her status as one of the world’s brightest female chess talents. Her World Cup triumph not only brings her global recognition and a substantial prize purse but also inspires a generation of young Indian players—proving India’s growing dominance in the world chess arena.
