What made the win even more special was the dramatic fashion in which it unfolded. Facing off against compatriot and seasoned chess legend Koneru Humpy, the final match was a battle of nerves and resilience. The classical portion of the match ended in a deadlock, leading to a nail-biting tie-break
Divya Deshmukh (Photo: Screengrab/@FIDE_chess/@chess24com)
Divya Deshmukh broke down in tears and embraced her mother after clinching the 2025 FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup title on Monday, moments after the 19-year-old became the youngest woman ever to win the prestigious title.
What made the win even more special was the dramatic fashion in which it unfolded. Facing off against compatriot and seasoned chess legend Koneru Humpy, the final match was a battle of nerves and resilience. The classical portion of the match ended in a deadlock, leading to a nail-biting tie-break. The first rapid game saw a balanced draw, and the second appeared to be heading toward a similar outcome, until pressure mounted.
19-year-old Divya Deshmukh is in tears after winning the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup! pic.twitter.com/DuFYH0bqT5
— chess24 (@chess24com) July 28, 2025
Under the immense weight of the clock, the 38-year-old Humpy, herself a former World Rapid Champion and one of India’s greatest ever players, succumbed to time trouble. Sensing her moment, Divya seized the opportunity with composure and precision, capitalising on her opponent’s slip to secure a stunning win.
Divya’s hug to her mom says everything ❤️#FIDEWorldCup @DivyaDeshmukh05 pic.twitter.com/jeOa6CjNc1
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 28, 2025
The victory for the Nagpur player came after the two classical games played on Saturday and Sunday ended in draws.
Having drawn the two classical games, it was the first set of tiebreakers that proved decisive as Humpy lost her nerves. Except the World Cup and the Women's World Championship, Humpy has won everything under the sun but, as fate or nerves would have it, the World Cup title eluded her.
With the triumph, Divya not only claimed the coveted title but also achieved the elite Grandmaster (GM) title. She now becomes the 88th Grandmaster from India and only the fourth Indian woman to reach this milestone, following in the footsteps of Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and R Vaishali.
In a poignant twist, Humpy had become a Grandmaster in 2002, three years before Divya was even born. Now, two decades later, the torch appears to have passed to the dynamic young star. Deshmukh's relentless energy, aggressive style, and tactical sharpness wore down her far more experienced rival, especially during the high-pressure tie-breaks. Her ability to maintain composure and shift gears at the right moment was a testament to her growth and maturity as a player.
(With PTI inputs)
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