State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 29 Jul 2025

Divya Deshmukh Becomes Women’s World Cup Champion

Why in News? 

19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made history by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup, defeating veteran Koneru Humpy in a tiebreaker, and earning the grandmaster title despite starting the tournament without any norms. 

Key Points 

• Grandmaster: Divya is now India's 88th Grandmaster and the fourth woman to achieve this title, joining Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Humpy Koneru. 
  • She defeated top players such as the World No. 6 from China, Zhu Jiner, the Indian veteran Harika Dronavalli, and former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi before facing Humpy in the final. 
  • Starting as an International Master, her victory qualifies her to become India's fourth female Grandmaster, bypassing traditional norms under a special FIDE regulation. 
• Previous Achievements: Last year, she was crowned the World Junior Champion in the girls' category. 
  • Additionally, she played an important role in helping India win the gold medal at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she also earned an individual gold. 
• Future Prospects: She is set to be a formidable player in future competitions, including the Candidates Tournament, where the top eight players battle for a chance to challenge the World Champion. 
• Historic Finale: The presence of both finalists from India reflects the country's rising influence in women's chess, paralleling the success of Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa in the open section, and marking India's growing presence alongside the long-standing dominance of Chinese and Russian players.