Divya Deshmukh's World Cup title: A testament to India's massive strength in chess
Divya took down top Chinese players like Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi en route to the final. Just last month, she had defeated world number one Hou Yifan at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships — a feat that earned praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Humpy defeated heavyweights like Lei Tingjie and former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.The final saw both players searching for opportunities in classical play, but the game ended in a draw. Heading into the rapid tiebreaks, Humpy, a two-time World Rapid Champion, appeared to have the upper hand. But Divya held a psychological edge as she had beaten Humpy in the rapid round of the Tata Steel Masters last year.In Batumi, it was Divya who showed more initiative. Game 1 was a strategic battle; Divya only agreed to a draw when no counterplay remained. Game 2 was another even contest until a single blunder by Humpy opened the door. Divya nearly threw away the advantage by being overly aggressive, but Humpy's second fatal blunder under time pressure sealed the match.Divya's play was a testament to modern chess — precise, psychological, and built on exploiting mistakes. Her early flurry of moves gave her a significant time advantage, while Humpy's slower play left her vulnerable. In the end, the student triumphed over the teacher in dramatic fashion.DIVYA'S SUCCESS REFLECTS INDIA'S CHESS DOMINANCEDivya Deshmukh's win over Koneru Humpy was more than just a personal triumph. It was the icing on the cake for Indian chess. Since Gukesh D qualified for the Candidates in December 2023, Indian players have seen unprecedented success at every level.advertisementGukesh not only won the Candidates but also followed it up with double gold — individually and for the team. Similarly, Divya shone at the Olympiad, winning both individual and team golds as India completed a historic double. Gukesh's win over Ding Liren in the World Championship brought chess back into mainstream Indian consciousness for the first time since Viswanathan Anand's peak.The momentum has not slowed. Praggnanandhaa has won titles at UzChess, Tata Steel Chess, and Superbet Romania. Gukesh has beaten Magnus Carlsen in both rapid and classical formats, the latter in Carlsen's own backyard in Stavanger, Norway. That victory echoed Carlsen's win over Anand in Chennai back in 2013, but this time, the tables had turned. Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin have also found success on the circuit.In the junior category, Pranav Venkatesh is now the World Junior Champion, and India bagged three gold medals in the FIDE World Cup Cadets 2025 in the Under-10 and Under-12 events held in Georgia.Divya's title is simply the latest milestone in a golden era. All eyes now turn to 2026, where both Divya and Humpy will aim to qualify for and win the Women's Candidates. If India can produce winners in both the Open and Women's categories, it will confirm that India's dominance in chess is not a fluke. The foundation is laid. The mission for 2026 is clear: sustain the success that 2025 has delivered.- EndsMust Watch
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