History was rewritten yesterday at Batumi, Georgia when 19 year old 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐲𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐮𝐤𝐡 won the Women’s World Cup Chess Tournament. She defeated her compatriot 38 year old Koneru Humpy, who has been the leading light of Indian Women’s Chess during the last two decades, in an all Indian Final (first time ever). She became the first Indian ever to win this title. She also achieved the elite Grand Master title, (in a direct way without the need of three GM norms and a 2500 Elo rating) becoming India’s 88th GM and the fourth woman (after Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and Vaishali R). She has gained a spot in the 2026 Candidates tournament.

Divya’s first major title was winning the National Under 7 title at Puducherry in 2012. She further won world youth titles in the U-10 (Durban, 2014) and U-12 (Brazil, 2017). She achieved the Woman Grand Master (WGM) title in 2021. She won an individual bronze medal at the 2022 Women’s Chess Olympiad. Her individual gold medal at the 2024 Women’s Chess Olympiad powered the Indian team to clinch the Gold.

DivyaDeshmukh, we are proud of your achievements! Our best wishes to you to achieve many more and the biggest of the titles 😊

Yashmia – always for Women’s empowerment and success!