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Beating China’s top seed and former Women’s World Champion Zhongyi Tan, India’s WGM Divya Deshmukh makes history by becoming the first Indian Women Grand Master to surf through to the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup Final 2025. Divya also became the first teenager in three decades to secure one of the top positions in the paramount tournament.
After four Indian Women Grand Masters – Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishnavi and Divya Deshmukh entered the Quarter Finals, a first in the summit tournament, the 19- year old Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur defeated second seed, Zhu Jiner of China and eliminating seasoned Indian top seed Koneru Humpy to reach the Final. She also inevitably qualifies for the Candidates tournament as well.
Who is Divya Deshmukh?
Divya Deshmukh was born into a Marathi family to doctors Jitendra and Namratha Deshmukh. She took interest in the black and white chequered sport from an early age, learning the basics from her father at the age of five. Grasping the core of the game at the tender age, Divya went on to win her National Title at just 7.
Divya’s current ELO rating is 2463 while her career highest being 2501, achieved in October 2024. This rating thus reflects her consistency and resilience and her course from being a young prodigy to now a potential FIDE World Champion is nothing short of substantial.
She became a Woman Grand Master in 2021, becoming the 21st WGM from India and clinched the 2022 Women’s India Chess Championship title. As of December 2024, Divya Deshmukh is India’s No.2 ranked Chess player who was also a crucial part in India’s gold medal victory at the 2020 FIDE Online Olympiad.
Divya’s part in the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz tournament for the Hexamind Chess Club who secured the silver and in defeating the World No.1 Hou Yifan in an exciting 74-move game made her a surprising outshiner in the current WGM lot from India.
