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Time of India
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Divya Deshmukh: How a Nagpur girl became India's brand new Chess queen
In 2025, Divya Deshmukh secured a historic win at the FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi. The 19-year-old defeated Koneru Humpy in a tense final. This victory made her the first Indian woman to win the title. She also earned the Grandmaster title. Divya's journey from Nagpur included balancing chess with academics. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A childhood in Nagpur How Divya achieved the feat Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In Batumi, Georgia, the board was set, the clocks were ticking, and two Indian women—generations apart—sat facing each other in the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 On one side was Koneru Humpy , a seasoned legend and former rapid world champion. On the other was Divya Deshmukh , 19, calm and composed, her fingers dancing on the pieces with silent one quite expected what came two tense classical games ended in draws, the match went into tie-breaks. In the second rapid game, Humpy faltered—just once—on the 54th move. That was all Divya needed. With clinical precision, she seized the opportunity, pushing the game into a win. The moment the victory was sealed, the teenager broke down in tears.'I didn't even have one norm before this. I was thinking, 'Where can I get my norm?' And now I'm a Grandmaster. I think it was fate,' Divya told reporters later, her voice soft but that win, she became the first Indian woman to ever lift the FIDE Women's World Cup trophy. She also earned the Grandmaster title—becoming India's 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman after Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and Vaishali to do on 9 December 2005 in Nagpur, Divya grew up in a household of achievers. Her parents, Dr. Jitendra and Dr. Namratha Deshmukh, both medical professionals, never pushed her into chess. However, a four-year-old Divya picked up the the age of ten, she was flying out to represent India in age-group world tournaments. School, meanwhile, never took a backseat. Studying at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Divya juggled exams and tournaments like pieces on a sets Divya apart from other prodigies is her choice to pursue both education and chess—not as rivals, but as allies. After acing her Class 12 board exams, she chose distance learning to continue her academic she's studying sports psychology, performance science, and data analytics in chess—subjects she believes will sharpen her game and mindset.'It definitely means a lot. There's a lot more to achieve. I'm hoping this is just the start,' she said after her World Cup didn't enter this tournament as the top seed. In fact, in the 2023 Tata Steel Women's Rapid, she was a last-minute entry and the lowest-rated player in the field. Yet she finished ahead of world champion Ju 2024, she clinched the World U-20 Girls Championship with a commanding 10/11 score. And in 2023, she bagged the Asian Continental Women's win was quiet, calculated, and consistent—like her victory over Humpy wasn't just a win over a great—it was a passing of the baton. The same Koneru Humpy, who once inspired young Indian girls to take up chess, now stood across from one of her successors. That 54th move may have been a small error, but it became the move that shifted Indian chess history With the World Cup in her pocket, Divya now qualifies for the Women's Candidates Tournament, the gateway to challenge Ju Wenjun for the world title. The teenager from Nagpur is just a few matches away from possibly becoming the World Chess Champion.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Who is Divya Deshmukh? Meet the first Indian woman to win FIDE Women's World Cup Champion title
India has a new chess queen! Divya Deshmukh, the teenage sensation from Nagpur, created history by becoming the FIDE Women's World Cup Champion 2025. With this grand win, she has become the first Indian woman ever to win this prestigious title, marking a monumental moment for Indian chess on the global stage. In a nail-biting final held in Batumi, Georgia, Divya Deshmukh faced off against Indian chess legend Koneru Humpy, who is also a world chess champion in rapid format. After both classical games ended in tense draws, the match went into the tie-break rounds. The turning point came in the second rapid tie-break game, where Divya took full advantage of a small mistake made by the 38-year-old Humpy in the 54th move. With nerves of steel and sharp tactical play, the 19-year-old sealed her victory and couldn't hold back her tears. This triumph made her the FIDE Women's World Cup champion, a title every chess player dreams of. Divya Becomes India's 88th Grandmaster and 4th Woman GM 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐲𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐮𝐤𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐅𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 🏆.#FIDEWorldCup | #DivyaDeshmukh | #HumpyKoneru Thanks to this incredible performance, Divya Deshmukh has also earned the title of Grandmaster, becoming India's 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this feat. She now stands alongside other iconic Indian women Grandmasters like Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali. With her finals appearance, Divya has also qualified for the Women's Candidates Tournament, where the winner gets a chance to challenge reigning women's world chess champion, Ju Wenjun of China. Early Life and Education of Divya Deshmukh Born on 9 December 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Divya was raised in an academically driven household. Her parents, Dr. Jitendra and Dr. Namratha Deshmukh, both medical professionals, always encouraged a balanced lifestyle filled with discipline and ambition. Divya studied at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, a respected CBSE school in Nagpur. She showed an early love for chess, and by the age of 10, she was already representing India in global age-group competitions. Despite a busy travel schedule, she never let her studies fall behind and consistently performed well in school. Balancing Chess with Academics Unlike many young prodigies who abandon formal education, Divya chose to continue her learning journey. After completing Class 12 with distinction, she opted for distance education to focus on her growing chess career. As of 2025, she is pursuing online courses in sports psychology, performance science, and data analytics in chess, proving that her learning spirit goes beyond the 64 squares of a chessboard. She believes this knowledge will give her a psychological edge and a deeper understanding of the game. Divya Deshmukh's Impressive Chess Career So Far Over the past few years, Divya Deshmukh has made headlines with her consistent performances: In 2023, she won the Asian Continental Women's Championship. At the Tata Steel Women's Rapid Chess 2023, she stunned everyone by finishing ahead of the reigning world chess champion Ju Wenjun, despite entering as a last-minute replacement and the lowest seed. In 2024, Divya dominated the World U-20 Girls Chess Championship, finishing undefeated and claiming first place with a near-perfect score of 10/11. These accomplishments are a clear sign that Divya Deshmukh is not just a one-time wonder but a long-term force in global chess. Divya Deshmukh, India's Brightest Chess Star With her victory at the FIDE Women's World Cup, Divya Deshmukh has become a symbol of the new generation of Indian chess – fearless, focused, and fiercely talented. Her journey from a young girl with a chessboard to the world's chess champion is truly inspirational. As the world now turns its eyes towards her next move, Divya remains grounded, committed to growing both as a chess player and a student of the game. Whether it's a chess piece or a course module, she handles both with equal grace and intelligence. Divya Deshmukh, the FIDE Women's World Cup Champion, has proven that age is no barrier to success when there is passion, discipline, and sheer dedication. By defeating the experienced Koneru Humpy, she has opened a new chapter in India's chess legacy. With her Grandmaster title, academic pursuits, and rising fame, Divya is now the face of modern Indian chess. She is not just a champion of the present but a promise for the future. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Divya Deshmukh education qualifications: From Nagpur school desks to becoming India's fourth woman chess grandmaster
Divya Deshmukh, India's fourth woman chess grandmaster. After 24 gruelling days of world-class chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stood atop the podium as the FIDE Women's World Cup Champion, having defeated none other than India's first woman Grandmaster, Koneru Humpy, in a nerve-wracking tiebreak final. In doing so, Divya didn't just clinch one of the most coveted titles in women's chess, she also became India's fourth woman to earn the Grandmaster title, and the first ever to win the Women's World Cup. But behind the grandmaster title and global headlines lies a quieter story of a schoolgirl from Nagpur, balancing academic excellence with a relentless pursuit of chess mastery. A doctor's daughter raised on books and boards Born on 9 December 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Divya Deshmukh grew up in a household where learning was the norm. Her parents, Dr. Jitendra and Dr. Namratha Deshmukh, both medical professionals, instilled in her the discipline that comes with a rigorous academic environment. Yet it was a chessboard, not a stethoscope, that caught young Divya's fascination. Divya began her formal schooling at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, a reputed CBSE-affiliated school in Nagpur. By the age of 10, Divya was already a national-level champion, representing India in age-category events abroad. But even as her passport filled up with stamps, her school diary stayed updated with homework and class notes. Teachers and classmates remember her not just as the 'chess girl' but as a focused, curious student who never used her talent as an excuse to skip studies. She completed her Class 10 and 12 board exams with distinction, often preparing for them in hotel rooms or between chess rounds. Divya credits her school and family for never letting either side of her life feel like a burden. Higher education: Learning on her own terms Unlike many peers who jumped straight into college after Class 12, Divya made a conscious choice to focus on her chess career during its peak. However, that didn't mean abandoning academics. As of 2025, she is pursuing her higher education through distance learning, with a growing interest in sports psychology, performance science, and data analytics in chess. She's enrolled in online certifications and open university courses, choosing flexibility over convention, a route many young athletes are now beginning to explore. The making of a grandmaster Divya was awarded the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2021 and soon became India's second-highest ranked woman player. Her rise was marked by wins at the Asian Women's Championship (2023), World U-20 Girls Championship (2024), and a string of top finishes in rapid and blitz formats. In 2024, she played a key role in India's team gold win at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. 2025 became her defining year. She defeated top seeds like Zhu Jiner, Harika Dronavalli, and Tan Zhongyi on her way to the FIDE Women's World Cup final, and finally beat Koneru Humpy, her childhood idol, to claim the title. Divya Deshmukh's story is more than a record of titles, it's a case study in self-discipline, time management, and the power of balance. She has shown that you can be a top student and a world-class competitor, that education and excellence don't have to exist in separate lanes. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
News18
24-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Meet Divya Deshmukh, The Teenage WGM Making Waves On The Global Stage
Last Updated: Deshmukh added yet another accolade to her growing list of achievements as she moved into the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup in Georgia on Wednesday. Divya Deshmukh etched her name in the long annals of Indian chess history as she moved into the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 with her triumph over Zhongyi Tan in the semifinal, thus becoming the first teenager in over three decades to secure a place in the summit clash of the prestigious event. The 19-year-old from Nagpur also enjoyed a stunning run to the final as she eliminated second seed, Zhu Jiner of China, before defeating her experienced compatriot and India's No. 2, Harika Dronavalli, in the quarterfinals. Born into a Marathi family, the daughter of doctors Jitendra and Namratha Deshmukh, Divya, attended Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir and took to the chequered board early. Her father taught her the basics of the game when the youngester was all of five years old, and she took it to like a swan to water as she went on to clinch her first national title at the tender age of seven. Her rise, there on out, has been nothing short of phenomenal. Deshmukh's current ELO rating reads 2463, while her peak rating of 2501 dating back to October of last year, serving as a fair indicator of the incredible talent the teenager possesses. Divya became India's 21st Woman Grandmaster in the year 2021 and won the 2022 Women's Indian Chess Championship. She earned an individual bronze medal at the 2022 Chess Olympiad and played a crucial role in India's gold medal victory at the 2020 FIDE Online Olympiad. As of December 2024, she is ranked No. 2 among Indian women chess players. Divya clinched the Asian Women's Chess Championship in Almaty in 2023 and won the women's rapid section of the Tata Steel India Chess Tournament, defeating top players such as Harika Dronavalli and Koneru Humpy. She triumphed at the Sharjah Challengers in 2024, followed by a historic win at the FIDE World U20 Girls Championship in June, becoming only the fourth Indian to achieve this title. She finished with an impressive score of 10/11 after a decisive final-round victory. At the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in London, Divya played a key role for Hexamind Chess Club, securing silver in the rapid team event and bronze in the blitz team event. A standout moment came in the blitz semifinal, where she defeated world No. 1 Hou Yifan in an exciting 74-move game. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Pink Villa
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Pink Villa
Who is Divya Deshmukh? 19-year-old chess prodigy who has reached the FIDE Women's World Cup semi-finals
Divya Deshmukh, a young chess player, has been grabbing headlines on the Internet. At 19, Divya is making India proud. She has recently entered the semi-finals of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. Here's all you should know about Divya, including her career achievements and more. Divya Deshmukh holds the title of Woman Grandmaster and more Divya Deshmukh has proved her talent with multiple gold medals. As per the official website of FIDE, she holds the titles of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and International Master (IM) for her outstanding performances in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Her other FIDE titles include Woman International Master (WIM) [2018] and Woman FIDE Master (WFM) [2013]. Divya has won three gold medals at the Chess Olympiad. Apart from this, she also secured several gold medals at the Asian Championship, World Youth Championship, and World Junior Championship. In 2021, Divya Deshmukh became India's 21st woman chess Grandmaster. A year later, she won the 2022 Women's Indian Chess Championship. She also holds a bronze medal, which she secured at the Chess Olympiad three years ago. In 2023, the 19-year-old teenager won the Asian Women's Chess Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In 2024, she won the 45th Chess Olympiad for which she received the team's gold medal and an individual gold medal. As of December 2024, Divya Deshmukh is ranked in the second spot among Indian women chess players in the world. All about Divya Deshmukh's education and family Divya Deshmukh hails from a Marathi family in Nagpur, Maharashtra. She was born on December 9, 2005. Her parents, Jitendra Deshmukh and Namratha Deshmukh, are doctors by profession. As far as her education is concerned, Deshmukh studied from Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir during her early days. She began playing chess at a very young age. Divya Deshmukh reaches the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup semi-finals Divya Deshmukh has now become the second Indian woman to qualify for the semi-finals at the FIDE Women's World Cup. She will join veteran chess player Koneru Humpy in the semi-final tournament. This will be the first time India will have two players in the last four stages of the FIDE Women's World Cup. In the semi-final of the FIDE Women's World Cup, Divya Deshmukh will play against Tan Zhongyi, who hails from China. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
