Our Bureau
Batumi
In a landmark achievement for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh claimed the FIDE Women’s World Cup title on Monday in Batumi, Georgia, overcoming veteran GM Koneru Humpy in dramatic tiebreaks. With this victory, Deshmukh not only became the first Indian woman to win the prestigious event but also the nation’s 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this highest chess title.
The final match saw an intense battle between experience and youth. After the two classical games on Saturday and Sunday ended in tense draws, the contest shifted to rapid tiebreaks on Monday. Deshmukh held strong during the first rapid game before capitalizing on a critical mistake by Humpy in the second, securing the championship with poise under pressure. The result was met with an outpouring of congratulations from top officials, including India’s Home Minister and chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who praised Deshmukh’s nerves and composure in a high-stakes scenario.
Deshmukh’s road to victory was unconventional in more ways than one. Unlike the traditional route to Grandmaster, which requires securing three GM norms and a 2500 rating, FIDE regulations automatically confer the GM title to winners of select elite events, including the Women’s World Cup. Remarkably, Deshmukh had not secured a single GM norm before the tournament, making her triumph all the more extraordinary.
The young champion, emotional after her win, credited fate and her family’s support. “I didn’t even have one norm coming into the tournament. Now I’m a Grandmaster—it’s hard to process,” she said, embracing her mother amid tears of joy.
Deshmukh’s triumph not only cements her position as a trailblazer in Indian chess but also secures her a spot in the upcoming Candidates tournament, keeping hopes alive for further historic achievements.
