Divya Deshmukh: First Indian Woman to Win the FIDE Women’s World Cup

India’s chess landscape reached a historic milestone as Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, held in Batumi, Georgia, in 2025. Her victory not only secured her a spot among the game’s elite but also instantly earned her the prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title — the highest official title in chess, awarded by FIDE (the International Chess Federation) to players demonstrating exceptional skill and performance.

Final Showdown: A Battle of Nerves

The final match was an all-Indian affair, with Divya facing off against veteran Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, a chess legend and one of India’s most decorated female players. The classical segment of the final ended in two hard-fought draws, pushing the duel into rapid tiebreaks — shorter time control games where pressure is high and decisions are fast-paced.

In the rapid games, Divya drew Game 1 with the White pieces and then brilliantly capitalized on Humpy’s time trouble and a critical endgame slip in Game 2, clinching the tiebreak 1.5–0.5. This commanding performance under pressure earned Divya the championship crown.

Prize Money and Grandmaster Milestone

As the champion, Divya earned a $50,000 cash prize, while runner-up Humpy took home $35,000, from a total prize fund of $691,250. But beyond the monetary reward, the bigger achievement was Divya’s automatic awarding of the Grandmaster title — bypassing the usual requirement of achieving three GM “norms” and a FIDE rating of 2500.

With this triumph, Divya became India’s 88th Grandmaster overall, and only the fourth Indian woman to earn the title, joining Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali.

Historic First for India in the Women’s World Cup

The FIDE Women’s World Cup is a prestigious knockout tournament, separate from the Women’s World Chess Championship, and was first held in 2021. Organized by FIDE, the global governing body of chess, it brings together the world’s top female talent in a high-stakes format.

Before Divya’s win, the event had only two champions: Alexandra Kosteniuk (2021) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (2023). Divya’s victory in 2025 thus made her the third-ever winner of the tournament — and the first Indian woman to lift the coveted trophy.

What It Means for Indian Women’s Chess

Divya’s achievement is a breakthrough for Indian women’s chess and has broader implications:

• World Cup Champion: She is now a global icon as India’s first Women’s World Cup winner.

• Immediate Grandmaster Title: Her World Cup victory led directly to her being awarded the GM title, without needing to meet the usual criteria — a rare and elite pathway.

• Candidates Tournament Berth: Both Divya and Humpy qualified for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, which determines challengers for the Women’s World Championship — placing them in the highest competitive bracket.

• Role Model for Youth: Balancing academics with elite-level chess, Divya is a powerful symbol of dedication and youthful resilience — especially inspiring for India’s next generation of players.

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