Latest news with #FIDEWomen'sChessWorldCup
Hindustan Times
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Divya Deshmukh receives grand welcome in Nagpur as fans flock to congratulate Women's Chess World Cup champion
Divya Deshmukh got a grand welcome on her return to Nagpur, after winning the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup title in Batumi (Georgia). The 19-year-old was welcomed by a massive crowd at the airport in Nagpur, as family, friends and chess fans from across the city flocked to cheer for her. FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 champion Divya Deshmukh being welcomed upon her arrival at Nagpur airport.(PTI) On arriving in Nagpur, she said, 'I am so happy to receive this affection. My heart is full.' 'I'll take some rest this month and prepare for Grand Swiss next,' she added. Here is the full video of her Nagpur welcome: Divya defeated Koneru Humpy in the final, and was extremely emotional after the win. There were tears of joy rolling down her cheeks as she hugged her mother, who tried to calm her down. During her post-match interview, she said, 'I need time to process it. I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way. Because before this, I didn't even have one norm, and before this tournament, I was thinking 'Oh, where can I get my norm' and now I'm a Grandmaster.' Analysing her game, she conceded that she needs to improve in her endgames. 'I definitely need to learn endgames. I'm pretty sure at some point I messed it up. I'm not sure how. It should have been an easy win. I think I should not allow g4. But I think maybe I should just go rook a3, rook f3, rook g3, and that should be a win,' she said. 'It definitely means a lot. But of course, there's uh there's a lot more to achieve. So this I'm hoping this is just a start,' she added. She is also the first Indian to win the FIDE Women's World Cup title and she wasn't even a GM before the tournament. She bagged the GM title after beating Humpy, becoming India's 88th. Her qualification for the final also saw her get a berth at next year's Candidates Tournament.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The banana survives in Batumi; India gets its first-ever Women's World Cup champion in Divya Deshmukh
Divya Deshmukh beat Koneru Humpy to become the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup in Georgia. Her companion through it all was a banana. NEW DELHI: In Batumi, Georgia, the final handshake left nineteen-year-old Divya Deshmukh full of raw emotions and tears — not just for the game she had just won, but for what it meant: India, for the first time ever, had a Women's World Cup chess champion — her closest companion in that moment were not her parents, coach or a fan, but a humble banana. Yes, a banana, untouched through the tension and triumph, now turned into the most unassuming witness to one of Indian chess's most glorious days. In chess, White pieces traditionally hold the advantage by virtue of the first move. But Divya had the black pieces, going into the decider of Monday's rapid tie-break against thirty-eight-year-old legendary Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy, after all three previous classical and rapid games had ended in draws. The game teetered delicately, move after move, until Humpy cracked under the time pressure on move 40. Her sequence, 40.e4 followed by 41.d5, forced Divya to play and the veteran survived the first time. But it was not the last. The game stayed on a knife's edge from there, with both players trading blunders and brilliance, led more by instinct than calculation as the clock ticked menacingly. When Humpy played 69.h7, the evaluation bar dropped again but never climbed back in her favour. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Six moves later, the two-time World Rapid champion resigned. And with it came the coronation of a champion, a new queen of 64 squares, India's 88th GM. The board as Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian to win the Women's Chess World Cup. It felt like a dream that the 15th-seed teenager, with no Grandmaster norms coming into the tournament, had just become only the fourth female in India after Humpy, D Harika, and R Vaishali to achieve the distinction. But unlike the other three, she did it in one swing, without amassing the three GM norms. The playing hall rose in applause. But there, quietly soaking up all the drama, sat the banana, an omnipresent figure in Divya's games these days. It had followed the Indian prodigy through round after round, a prop that puzzled many and amused more. Let's rewind to Sunday evening, after the draw in the second classical game of the final, Divya was eventually asked about it. 'I mean, what else am I going to do with the banana? I'm going to eat it,' she answered. 'I don't know what you're wondering about. I'm going to eat it, obviously.' Except, she never did. Divya Deshmukh on the podium after winning the gold medal at the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup. (Image: X/FIDE) 'My opponents are never letting me eat it,' she smiled, when pressed further. 'If I start eating a banana, then you should know that I'm pretty relaxed in my body.' But since there was no room for relaxation, the banana became her constant in the chaos. When asked if it was proving lucky, she laughed it off with a quick 'No!' But then again, we've all seen Rafael Nadal fuss over his water bottles and MS Dhoni with his glove rituals. Nevertheless, the banana sat just centimetres away, enjoyed the best view as Divya took down a player twice her age, earning the admiration of legends and the love of a 150-crore-strong nation. And now, while Divya may not have bitten into that, she has something far sweeter to sink her teeth into: a gold medal. Divya Deshmukh survived Batumi. So did the banana. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Watch: Heartwarming moment when Divya Deshmukh shared a touching hug with her mother after clinching the FIDE Women's World Cup
Emotions got the better of Divya Deshmukh as she could not hold back tears after winning the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup. Watch the moment when she met her mother after clinching the coveted title. read more Divya Deshmukh of India rose to prominence on Monday, making distinguished history by securing the FIDE Women's World Cup title. The 19-year-old defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker of the final, thereby becoming the first Indian to claim the title. She is also the youngest in the world to achieve the feat, and the day kept becoming better for her as she also attained the final required norm to acquire the coveted Grandmaster's tag. She will be the 88th Grandmaster of India and only the 4th woman GM of the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the classical games ended in a draw, the pressure was on Divya as Humpy, with all her experience, was the favourite to take the win. However, the teen sensation kept her nerves under control and did not give her opponent an ounce of advantage to capitalise on. She waited, and her persistence finally paid off when Humpy made the blunder in the second game of the tie-breaker. Subsequently, the veteran GM was left with no other option but to resign. Divya Deshmukh fails to hold back tears while hugging mother After attaining the milestone, Divya Deshmukh was overwhelmed with emotions and could not hold back tears. She rushed to meet her mother, and then a heartwarming moment ensued between the mother and daughter. As she relived the magnitude of her achievement, Divya tightly hugged her mother, a moment that transcended words. No words can define the enormity of the moment. It is the relentless hard work that is now flowing in the form of emotions. Having bagged the gold in the FIDE Women's World Cup is just the start of Divya Deshmukh's journey to conquer the world. She has qualified for the Candidates tournament and will be eyeing the opportunity to become the next challenger to reigning five-time World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun of China. Notably, Koneru Humpy has also qualified for the Candidates tournament, setting up another potential showdown between the two Indian Chess GMs as they vie for the top prize.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
28-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
How Divya Deshmukh outfoxed Koneru Humpy, scripted history by winning FIDE Women's Chess World Cup 2025
India's 19-year-old chess sensation Divya Deshmukh made history on Monday, becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup and also the country's 88th Grandmaster, after defeating the legendary Koneru Humpy in the tiebreaks. read more Teenage chess sensation Divya Deshmukh scripted new history on Monday as she became the tournament. The 19-year-old defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy in tiebreaks to clinch the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup 2025 crown at Batumi, Georgia. Only the Rapid tiebreaks took place on Monday after the Classical round ended in a draw. The first Rapid tiebreak also ended without a result, but Divya turned the tables towards the end in the second game against an error-prone Humpy to clinch the title in 75 moves with Black pieces, forcing her opponent to resign. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 🇮🇳 Divya Deshmukh defeats Humpy Koneru 🇮🇳 to win the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup 🏆#FIDEWorldCup @DivyaDeshmukh05 — International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 28, 2025 Besides becoming the first Indian to win a FIDE Women's Chess World Cup, Divya also earned her Grandmaster title. She is India's 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth woman chess player to earn the feat after Humpy, R Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli. How Divya outfoxed Humpy, scripted history All the while, during the second Rapid tiebreak, it looked like the match would finish in a draw as both players opted for defensive moves. But as the tie headed into a draw, Humpy, playing with the advantage of White pieces, tried to create an opening with a pawn sacrifice. However, this move allowed Divya to tilt the balance in her favour as she opted for a Queen and Rook exchange. Also Read | Women's Chess World Cup Final LIVE, Koneru Humpy vs Divya Deshmukh The blunder from humpy came on which enabled the Black pawn to move a2 and be very close to promotion, forcing Humpy to station her Rook on a1. Divya, however, came close to surrendering the adage with 67.. f4, indicated as a blunder by the engine, only for Humpy to return the favour by playing an equally poor 67.h6 when Kd5 would have been the best move. Humpy repeated her mistake on 69.h7 under time pressure as Rook took it out. Also Read | India rejoices as Divya Deshmukh clinches FIDE Women's World Cup title Humpy replied by taking out the Black pawn on a2 with her Rook, but Divya ended with a pawn up in the Rook endgame and the former was forced to resign after 75 moves. How Divya defeated Humpy in the second Rapid tiebreak: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand was also surprised to see Humpy crumbling under the pressure in the endgame. 'Dramatic. Humpy just collapsed. It was totally self-inflicted. This was one of those situations where your nerves get the better of you, and there's nothing you can do about it,' Anand said in the commentary. As a result of her grand victory, Divya earned a prize money of $50,000 (Rs 41.6 lakh), while Humpy will be rewarded home $35,000 (Rs 29.1 lakh).
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Divya Deshmukh trumps Koneru Humpy to clinch maiden FIDE Women's WC title
India's rising star Divya Deshmukh has etched her name in chess history by defeating veteran compatriot Koneru Humpy to win the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup 2025. The thrilling final took place in Batumi, Georgia, and was decided in tense tiebreaks on Monday after the two classical games ended in draws. The 19-year-old Deshmukh showcased remarkable composure and skill under pressure. After drawing the first rapid tiebreak game, she seized her opportunity in the second rapid encounter while playing with the black pieces. Capitalizing on a critical endgame error by the experienced 38-year-old Humpy, Divya steadily increased her advantage and converted it to clinch the title. Divya Deshmukh ???????? winner of the World Chess Cup and also now a Grandmaster! — Chessdom (@chessdom) July 28, 2025 This victory marks the most significant achievement in Divya's burgeoning career, highlighting her as one of the brightest young talents in Indian and global chess. By winning the prestigious tournament, Divya also secured her Grandmaster title, a coveted milestone in the chess world. She is now the fourth Indian woman to reach this elite status, joining the ranks of the country's chess legends. Koneru Humpy, a seasoned grandmaster with decades of international experience, put up a fierce fight. Her resilience and deep understanding of the game made the match intensely competitive and engaging. However, Divya's fearless and aggressive style proved decisive in the rapid format, where quick thinking and tactical sharpness are vital. The FIDE Women's Chess World Cup final showcased the best of Indian chess, pitting two talented players from the same country against each other on a global stage. Divya Deshmukh's triumph symbolizes a new generation rising to prominence, promising exciting prospects for the future of Indian chess. This win not only earns Divya a prestigious title and a significant prize but also establishes her as a formidable force in international chess circles, setting the stage for an illustrious career ahead. FIDE Women's Chess World Cup Winners and Runner-ups The FIDE Women's World Cup is one of the most thrilling and fiercely competitive events on the international chess calendar. Held every two years, it brings together the best female players from around the world to battle it out in a knockout format that tests nerves, skill, and endurance. Beyond the prize money and glory, it serves as a crucial pathway towards the Women's Candidates Tournament and ultimately the World Championship cycle. 2021: Alexandra Kosteniuk's Triumphant Return Back in 2021, the first edition of the Women's World Cup was held in Sochi, Russia, setting a high bar for excitement. Alexandra Kosteniuk, a seasoned grandmaster and former world champion, played with her trademark calm and precision. She danced through the rounds, eventually facing Aleksandra Goryachkina in the final. Kosteniuk didn't just win — she was dominant, taking the series 1.5–0.5 without dropping a single game. The victory reinvigorated her career and launched the Women's World Cup into the spotlight. 2023: Goryachkina's Redemption in Baku Fast forward to 2023 in Baku, and the narrative shifted as Aleksandra Goryachkina sought redemption. After a narrow loss in the 2021 final, she kept her nerves steady, eventually beating Bulgaria's young prodigy Nurgyul Salimova in a tense rapid-play tiebreak. The score was 1.5–0.5 in her favour, but it was far from easy. Goryachkina's grit under pressure won her the crown and etched her name as a true contender on the world stage. 2025: Divya Deshmukh wins historic All-Indian Final The 2025 edition in Batumi, Georgia, has been nothing short of remarkable. For the first time, the Women's World Cup final was an all-Indian affair, featuring the experienced and composed Koneru Humpy against the fearless teenager Divya Deshmukh. Divya has earned the Grandmaster before her name on the day with the maiden World Cup title.
