Divya Deshmukh receives grand welcome in Nagpur after historic Chess World Cup win
Nagpur was gripped by celebration as the city welcomed home its newest sporting icon — Divya Deshmukh — fresh off her historic triumph at the FIDE Women's World Chess Cup 2025 held in Batumi, Georgia.
The 19-year-old sensation etched her name in the history books by defeating compatriot and seasoned campaigner Koneru Humpy in a dramatic tie-break final on Monday, marking the biggest achievement of her young career.
With this monumental win, Divya not only lifted the prestigious World Cup trophy but also achieved the elusive Grandmaster title — a milestone that had once seemed a distant dream at the start of the tournament.
She now becomes only the fourth Indian woman to attain the Grandmaster title, and the 88th Indian overall, joining an elite list that includes Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and R Vaishali.
The final showdown was tightly contested. After two classical games played over the weekend ended in draws, the match was pushed into Monday's tie-breaks. Playing with the white pieces in the first rapid game, Divya was held to a draw once again.
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But in the reverse fixture, wielding the black pieces, she held her nerve and defeated the two-time World Rapid Champion with a final score of 2.5-1.5.
Her breakthrough comes at a time when Indian men's chess is enjoying unprecedented global success, led by names like D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi. Divya's win signals a powerful resurgence in Indian women's chess and adds momentum to the country's rising dominance on the global chess stage.
By reaching the final, Deshmukh has also secured a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which will determine the challenger for China's reigning world champion Ju Wenjun in the Women's World Championship.
An emotional Divya couldn't hold back tears after her triumph over Humpy — an opponent twice her age — whose resilience made the win all the more meaningful for the determined teenager.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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