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Nagpur-based Divya Deshmukh on Monday scripted a new historical chapter as she become the fourth Indian woman to earn the title of Grandmaster courtesy after defeating fellow India's Koneru Humpy at FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Georgia's Batumi.
She is now the 88th Grandmaster of the country and follows Humpy, R. Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli in taking the prestigious Grandmaster title.
However, after winning the match against Koneru Humpy, Divya could not hold her emotions and the camera caught her in tears.
Even after winning the match, she sat in the chair for a while, trying to recognise what she had achieved. Apart from the coveted trophy, Divya will now receive $50,000 as part of the prize money.
Sharing the moment on social media, the International Chess Federation took to X and wrote, "Divya Deshmukh defeats Humpy Koneru to win the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup."
Here's the video:
Apart from this, the International Chess Federation also shared another video of Divya hugging her mother on X, writing, “Divya's hug to her mother says everything.”
Divya's journey at Women’s Chess World Cup:
Earlier on Saturday and Sunday, Divya played two classical games with Koneru, which resulted in a draws. On Monday too, she was again held to a draw in the time-controlled tie-breaker. However, in the reverse game she managed to overcome the two-time world rapid champion 2.5-1.5.
Following the victory against an opponent twice her age, Divya couldn't control her tear and said, as quoted by PTI, "I need time to process it (win). I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this (tournament) I didn't even have one (GM) norm, and now I am the Grandmaster."
Divya has now secured a spot in next year's Candidates tournament, which would decide who will take on world champion Ju Wenjun of China in the Women's World Championship.
With agency inputs.
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