Divya Deshmukh Becomes First Indian To Win FIDE Women's World Cup
The top three players also earned a spot at the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the winner of which will face reigning champion Ju Wenjun of China in Women's World Championship.
Teenager Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian to win the FIDE Women's World Cup as she defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy in the final in Georgia on Monday.
The 19-year-old International Master from Nagpur also became the fourth Indian woman to become a Grandmaster and the 88th overall.
Deshmukh defeated the two-time world rapid champion 1.5–0.5 in the tiebreaks at the Grand Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Batumi to become the third FIDE Women's World Cup winner. The first rapid game ended in a draw and the next one Deshmukh won with the Black pieces against the grandmaster. In the last two days, two classical games ended in draws.
"I need time to process it. I think it was fate (for me) getting the grandmaster title this way," Deshmukh said after the match.
There's a lot more to achieve. I'm hoping this is just a start.Divya Deshmukh
India's chess player Divya Deshmukh hugs her mother after winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025, in Batumi, Georgia, Monday, July 28, 2025. (FIDE/Anna Shtourman via PTI Photo)
The top three players also earned a spot at the 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament, the winner of which will face current world champion Ju Wenjun of China in the Women's World Championship.
Chess legend Viswanathan Anand congratulated Deshmukh. "Amazing battle of nerves. Koneru Humpy played a very good event and showed a commendable fighting spirit. The great champion she is!" Anand tweeted. "It was a great celebration of Indian chess, particularly Women's chess."
The winner will take home a prize money of $50,000, while the runner-up bagged $30,000.
