Indian chess is currently experiencing a golden age, a vibrant era where accolades are becoming almost commonplace. With Olympic gold medals for both Open and Women`s teams, an Indian women`s rapid champion, and the reigning world champion hailing from the subcontinent, one might think the trophy cabinet is full. Yet, the recent FIDE Women`s Chess World Cup brought forth another crowning achievement, an emphatic victory that redefined expectations and launched a young star into the stratosphere: Divya Deshmukh.
A Journey Beyond Expectation
For many rising talents, 2025 held modest ambitions – perhaps an improved rating, a few solid tournament performances. Divya Deshmukh, too, harbored such unassuming goals. Just recently, when discussing her aspirations for the year, her response was refreshingly straightforward: “I want to play in a lot of tournaments and improve my rating.” A perfectly sensible objective for any ambitious young player. Little did she, or indeed, the chess world, know just how dramatically those ratings and tournament successes would culminate.
While not a complete unknown, Divya had certainly made her mark. She was already a vital cog in two victorious Olympiad teams, earning individual medals and showcasing her steely resolve under pressure. Her performance in the 2024 Olympiad, where she scored an impressive 9.5 out of 11 points on her board, was instrumental in securing team gold for India. Recalling that experience, she simply called it “the best time of my life.” Such foundational experiences clearly forged the resilience needed for what was to come.
Navigating a Gauntlet of Giants
Entering the World Cup, Divya was not even considered a favorite, a fact perhaps underscored by her absence from the official website`s pre-tournament features. She hadn`t even secured a single Grandmaster norm – a typical prerequisite for the sport`s highest title. Furthermore, as the 15th seed, her draw was, to put it mildly, brutal. A veritable gauntlet awaited her: second seed Zhu Jiner in the fourth round, followed by a potential quarterfinal clash with fellow Indian formidable Harika Dronavalli, then World Championship runner-up Tan Zhongyi in the semifinals, and finally, the legendary Koneru Humpy in the grand finale. It was less a draw, more an epic quest.
Yet, Divya tackled this “nightmare draw” with a calm that belied her years. Her victory over the in-form Zhu Jiner in tie-breaks surely injected a significant dose of confidence. The quarterfinal against Harika, another Indian chess stalwart, saw Divya maintain control, eventually securing the win in tie-breaks. The semifinal against Zhongyi was arguably her most commanding performance, a roller-coaster classical game that she navigated to win without needing tie-breaks. This victory carried a curious historical weight: both Alexandra Kosteniuk and Aleksandra Goryachkina had defeated Zhongyi in previous World Cup semifinals before going on to win the title themselves.
The Crowning Moment and an Unexpected Title
The final against Koneru Humpy, a legend of Indian chess, was a testament to endurance and precision. Divya had opportunities in the classical games and even in the rapid tie-breaks, positions she didn`t quite convert. But chess, as often happens, reserves its final twist. Humpy made one last, crucial inaccuracy, and Divya, with the clinical precision of a seasoned veteran, seized it to claim the World Cup crown.
The celebrations and congratulatory messages poured in, many mistakenly hailing her as the “world champion.” While the actual world champion title belongs to Ju Wenjun, winning the World Cup is a monumental achievement in itself. And with this victory, Divya Deshmukh received an unexpected, yet richly deserved, bonus: she automatically became a Grandmaster.
“I didn`t even have one norm (coming into the event) and all I was thinking of was `Oh, when can I get my norm`, and now I`m a Grandmaster…,” she remarked, a touch of delightful bewilderment in her voice.
Indeed, she bypassed the arduous process of securing three norms, simply by winning the biggest event of her career. She is now India`s 88th Grandmaster, and remarkably, only the fourth woman among them. On her path to this elite status, she notably defeated two of the other three Indian women GMs: Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. A rather efficient way to introduce herself to the exclusive club.
The Future is Just Beginning
At an age where many are just beginning to consolidate their skills, Divya Deshmukh has achieved what most chess players dream of their entire lives. While acknowledging that there`s always room for improvement – particularly in sharp endgames and converting advantageous positions – she possesses the most crucial asset: time. Her youth positions her to be a formidable contender, likely the youngest in the field, at next year`s prestigious Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the World Championship match itself.
“It`s hard for me to speak right now. It definitely means a lot, but of course there`s a lot more to achieve,” Divya stated post-victory. “I`m hoping this is just the start.” For a sportsperson, being crowned a World Cup champion is hardly a bad way to kick off a career. In fact, it`s an announcement. An announcement that Divya Deshmukh, the young Indian with modest goals, has just begun to write her name in the annals of chess history.
