Divya Deshmukh Wins Women's Chess World Cup 2025: All About The 19-Year-Old Grandmaster

Divya Deshmukh creates history as the first Indian woman at the age of 19 to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025. Learn about her age, family, education, career, and net worth.
Who Is Divya Deshmukh

At just 19 years old, Divya Deshmukh has marked her name in Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025. Her victory over the experienced Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a nail-biting final held in Batumi, Georgia, marks not just a personal milestone but a defining moment for Indian chess. With sharp strategy and a calm mind, Divya has shown the world what the future of Indian chess looks like.

After two tense games that ended in draws, she prevailed over veteran Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in the rapid tie‑breaks, winning 1.5–0.5 and claiming the coveted title. This victory also earned her the Grandmaster title, making her India’s 88th GM and just the fourth Indian woman to achieve this level.

Who Is Divya Deshmukh?

Divya Deshmukh is a 19-year-old chess prodigy from Nagpur, Maharashtra, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup in 2025. Born on December 9, 2005, she began playing chess at the age of five and quickly rose through the ranks.

Divya also holds the Grandmaster title, making her India’s 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this feat.

Divya Deshmukh's Historic Win At The FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup

The FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup was held in Batumi, Georgia, from July 5 to July 29, 2025. Both classical games were drawn, but Divya’s tactical calm and sharp play in the rapid tie‑breaks made the difference.

In the decisive second rapid game, she capitalised on Humpy’s time trouble to clinch the win with precision. The emotional moment saw her embrace her mother immediately after.

Prime MinisterNarendra Modialso hailed her spirit and determination on X, "It’s been a phenomenal day for Indian Chess!

Divya Deshmukh has not only won the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup but also become a Grandmaster. Congratulations to her. Her accomplishment will motivate many people and contribute to chess becoming even more popular among the youth.

@DivyaDeshmukh05"

Divya Deshmukh’s Family

Divya Deshmukh was born on 9 December 2005, into a Marathi family in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Her parents, Dr Namrata and Dr Jitendra Deshmukh, are both medical professionals and instilled in her a strong sense of discipline and balance between academics and sports.

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One of Divya’s first reactions after winning the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 was hugging her mother. She later shared, “I definitely need to learn endgames. I think it was fate, me getting the grandmaster title this way. Before the tournament, I didn’t even have one norm. I was thinking that I could maybe earn a grandmaster norm here. And in the end, I became a grandmaster.”

Divya Deshmukh’s Education Qualifications

Divya Deshmukh studied at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir in Nagpur, maintaining academic excellence even as her chess schedule intensified.

After school, she is currently pursuing her higher education through distance learning and has also enrolled in online courses in sports psychology, performance science, and data analytics, tailoring her learning in ways that support her chess career.

A Look At Divya Deshmukh’s Chess Career

From winning national titles at U‑7 in 2012, Divya Deshmukh went on to claim world youth titles in the U‑10 (Durban, 2014) and U‑12 (Brazil, 2017) categories. Her early successes projected a promising future.

Divya earned the Woman Grandmaster title in 2021 and the International Master title in 2023. She captured the Asian Women’s Championship in Almaty in 2023 and won the Tata Steel Women’s Rapid the same year by defeating several top players, including reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun.

In June 2024, Divya Deshmukh dominated the World U‑20 Girls’ Championship, finishing with an impressive 10/11. Later that year, at the Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, she helped India clinch gold and received individual board honours.

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Divya Deshmukh's Net Worth

While Divya Deshmukh’s official net worth figures are rarely public, as per a Jagran report, her net worth is estimated to be around Rs 7 to 8 crore, reflecting earnings from tournaments, sponsorships, and appearances.

Her winnings from this World Cup include the top prize of US $50,000.

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What Lies Ahead For Divya Deshmukh

With her World Cup victory, Divya Deshmukh has also secured a spot in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, where the winner will challenge for the Women’s World Champion title.

At just 19, Divya Deshmukh symbolises the young, intelligent, and balanced spirit of modern Indian chess, inspiring millions of other young girls.


For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi.

Image credit: Instagram/Divya Deshmukh

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