MS Dhoni of the chessboard: Meet Divya Deshmukh, 19, new Women's World Cup winner
Indeed, in the final against Humpy-twice her age and one of India's most decorated players-Divya was composure personified. After two tense classical draws, she seized her moment in the second rapid tiebreaker, playing a deeply precise endgame to outmanoeuvre her opponent. Tears flowed as she shook hands and embraced her mother in the crowd."It definitely means a lot," Divya said moments after the win. "But of course, there's a lot more to achieve. So I'm hoping this is just the start." Exposure to top-tier international tournaments in recent years has shaped her game. It's no coincidence that she outclassed Humpy in the rapid segment, just months after the veteran had won the World Rapid Chess title herself. Divya's hug to her mom says everything #FIDEWorldCup @DivyaDeshmukh05 pic.twitter.com/jeOa6CjNc1— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 28, 2025"She's quite an aggressive player. But with time, Divya has become more all-round, more versatile. I think she's equally strong across all formats-Classical, Rapid and Blitz," Srinath says.Divya has begun beating the best in the business in their own backyards. From winning gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she scored an exceptional 9.5/11 on Board 3, to becoming World U20 Girls' Champion in September 2024, she has conquered every stage. Her fearless opening choices, love for sharp tactics, and never-say-die spirit make her one to watch in the coming years.An Accidental BeginningWhat makes Divya's journey all the more remarkable is how it began-entirely by accident.As a child, she was meant to accompany her older sister to badminton classes. But the net was too high for the four-year-old to reach. Nearby, a chess class was taking place in the same building. Her parents enrolled her instead.From that moment, a star was born. Raised by doctor parents in Nagpur, Divya took to the game with startling speed. By the age of 13, she was already known for her poise under pressure-a video from 2017 shows a young Divya stating she was unafraid of any opponent and never tired of fighting till the end.The Cool ConqueroradvertisementBy 2018, Srinath had spotted her gift. The two met ahead of the World U-16 Olympiad in Turkey. In the final round of that tournament, Divya defeated a top Iranian player under immense pressure, helping India clinch silver. "She was already stronger than most girls her age. And she had this incredible talent for big moments," he recalls.Her evolution wasn't entirely smooth. Like many young athletes, Divya experienced a lull during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking time off for her studies between 2020 and 2022. But by 2023, she was roaring back.In June 2025, in London, she stunned World No. 1 Hou Yifan at the World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship. After sacrificing a pawn midgame and launching a powerful central assault, she forced Yifan to resign after 74 gripping moves.That giant-slaying instinct would resurface in Batumi.The Unconventional GrandmasterDivya's Grandmaster title-India's 88th overall and fourth among women-didn't come via the traditional route of accumulating three GM norms and crossing a 2500 rating, but through sheer brilliance."I didn't even have one norm before this," she said with a smile, speaking to FIDE after her win. "I was thinking, 'Where can I get my norm?' And now I'm a Grandmaster. I think it was fate."advertisementUnder FIDE rules, winners of certain elite events can bypass the conventional path and become GMs directly-and the Women's World Cup is one of them. In three whirlwind weeks, Divya captured the title, booked a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, and made history.Despite her triumph, she remains grounded about her game. "I definitely need to learn endgames. I'm pretty sure I messed it up at one point. It should have been an easy win," she admitted.Champion of a Chess RenaissanceDivya's rise is symbolic of India's new golden generation in chess-young, bold, and brimming with self-belief-following closely behind male stars like World Champion D Gukesh.She is now among the favourites to challenge for the Women's World Championship. She will be joined in the 2026 Candidates Tournament by runner-up Humpy and third-placed former World Champion Tan Zhongyi."She is very strong. And in terms of her potential, she was already at Grandmaster level before this tournament," says Srinath."I think she has a very good chance of becoming the Women's World Champion-or at least be firmly on that path. In general, she's quite confident going into big tournaments."advertisementWith calm as her superpower, an accidental start, and a destiny carved through grit and genius, Divya Deshmukh's story is a defining chapter in the Indian chess renaissance of the 21st century.Still only 19, her greatest moves are likely yet to come. And just like Dhoni once did with a bat, Divya is doing it across 64 squares and with unshakable nerves.- Ends
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