“Divya Deshmukh’s historic victory marks a new era for Indian women’s chess.”
19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made history by defeating former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi to reach the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup. After drawing the first game, Divya played with calm precision and won the second in 101 moves. Her victory marks the first time an Indian woman has reached the World Cup final and also secured her a spot in the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Along the way, she defeated top players including Zhu Jiner and Harika Dronavalli, showcasing fearless play and strong nerves. Now, Divya stands one step away from the title and has firmly announced herself as a rising star in world chess.
In the final, Divya faced a tough challenge against Lei Tingjie, battling fiercely across multiple classical and rapid games. Though the match was closely contested, Divya showed resilience and strategic depth, pushing the games to critical moments. While the title ultimately slipped just out of reach, her performance in the final further cemented her status as one of the brightest young talents in the chess world.