In a landmark moment for Indian chess, young prodigy Divya Deshmukh defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy to win the Women’s World Cup 2025 crown.
The final match, held on July 28, culminated in a thrilling tie-break that saw Deshmukh emerge victorious 1.5-0.5.
The classical round ended in a stalemate on Sunday, setting the stage for rapid tie-breakers. While the first rapid game ended in a draw, Humpy faltered under time pressure in the second, allowing Deshmukh to seize the advantage and claim a historic win.
With this triumph, Deshmukh not only becomes the first Indian woman to clinch the Women’s World Cup title but also earns the distinction of being India’s 88th grandmaster. She now joins the elite club of female Indian grandmasters that includes Koneru Humpy, R. Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli.
Chess aficionados hail this victory as a defining moment in Indian sports, emphasising the growing dominance of young talent on the global stage. More celebrations and reactions are expected from across the chess community.
