New Delhi: India’s rising chess star Divya Deshmukh achieved the biggest milestone of her career on Sunday by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup title, defeating veteran compatriot Koneru Humpy in a tiebreaker.
With this historic win, the 19-year-old not only clinched the prestigious title but also earned the Grandmaster title — a feat that appeared unlikely at the start of the tournament.
She becomes only the fourth Indian woman to receive the title and the 88th overall.
The two classical games between the Indian duo, played on Saturday and Sunday, ended in draws. It was in the first group of tiebreakers where the outcome was decided. Humpy, 38, who has won almost every major international tournament barring the World Cup and Women’s World Championships, faltered under pressure and lost composure.
Playing with the white pieces in the first rapid game of the tiebreaker, Divya held Humpy to a draw. In the second, she switched to black and defeated the two-time World Rapid Champion to secure the crown.
The Grandmaster title was reserved for the winner of the tournament, and Divya’s determined performance ensured she returned home with both the title and the honour.
Hailing from Nagpur, Divya now joins the elite list of Indian women Grandmasters — Koneru Humpy, D Harika, and R Vaishali. Humpy became a Grandmaster in 2002, three years before Divya was born.
