Golden era! Divya Deshmukh wins Women's Chess World Cup at 19: How India's youngsters take over world stage
In another spectacular chess triumph for India, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh emerged as the torchbearer of a new generation. The Nagpur native scripted history by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025, defeating veteran Koneru Humpy in a nerve-wracking tiebreaker on Monday.
With this win, Divya not only claimed one of the most prestigious titles in women's chess but also earned the coveted Grandmaster (GM) title, a feat no one expected at the tournament's start.
'I didn't even have a single GM norm before this. Now, I'm a Grandmaster. It feels surreal,' said an emotional Divya, overwhelmed after her victory against an opponent twice her age. She became only the fourth Indian woman to achieve GM status, following in the footsteps of Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and Vaishali Rameshbabu.
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Divya's win is just one highlight in a golden era for Indian chess.
The country's young stars have taken over the global stage with poise and power. At the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest in 2024, both India's men's and women's teams clinched gold medals for the first time in history.
The women's team, featuring Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, held their nerve under pressure and delivered consistent performances to beat global powerhouses.
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On the men's side, the "Big Three" of Indian chess, Gukesh D, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, led the Open team to gold.
Gukesh's journey didn't stop there; he went on to become the World Chess Champion, defeating China's Ding Liren to become the youngest Indian ever to claim the title at the age of 18.
Poll
Do you think India's young chess players will continue to dominate international competitions in the future?
Yes, definitely
Most likely
Uncertain
No, it's just a phase
Adding to the year's accolades, 19-year-old Praggnanandhaa kicked off 2025 by winning the Tata Steel Masters at Wijk aan Zee, defeating Gukesh in a gripping finale.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Pranav Venkatesh became the World Junior Chess Champion last March, further highlighting the depth of young talent emerging from India.
Five-time World Champion
Viswanathan Anand
hailed this as a 'great celebration of Indian chess,' and rightly so.
With teenagers now dominating the world's toughest chess competitions, India's future on the 64 squares looks brighter than ever.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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