Divya Deshmukh makes history with FIDE Women’s World Cup win and Grandmaster title

Highlights

• Divya Deshmukh has become the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup.
  
• The 19-year-old defeated India’s No. 1 GM Koneru Humpy in the final.
  
• With this victory, Deshmukh qualifies for the Candidates tournament and earns the Grandmaster title.
  
• She is now the fourth Indian woman to achieve GM status.
  
• Deshmukh was emotional after the win and called it “fate”.
  

Historic triumph in Baku

India’s Divya Deshmukh has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, a title that also secures her qualification for the Candidates tournament and grants her the Grandmaster title.

The 19-year-old from Nagpur entered the tournament with modest expectations, aiming to earn a Grandmaster norm to aid her long-term title goals. However, in a remarkable three-week run, she achieved what few had anticipated — winning one of the most prestigious events in women’s chess and qualifying for the 2026 Women’s Candidates.

Grandmaster title without norms

Ordinarily, a player becomes a Grandmaster after securing three GM norms in FIDE-rated tournaments and crossing a live rating of 2500. Deshmukh, however, had not achieved even a single GM norm before this event.

Under FIDE rules, winners of select top-level competitions — including the Women’s World Cup — are automatically granted the Grandmaster title. This exemption allowed Deshmukh to bypass the traditional route.

Speaking after the win, Deshmukh said:

“I need time to process it. I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because 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, so…”

Emotional scenes after beating Humpy

Deshmukh secured the title with a win over Koneru Humpy, India’s highest-ranked female player and a two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion. Her mother, a doctor, was present in the playing hall to witness the moment.

After clinching victory, Deshmukh became visibly emotional and embraced her mother in tears.

“It’s hard for me to speak right now. It definitely means a lot, but of course there’s a lot more to achieve. I’m hoping this is just the start,” she said following the final.

Fourth Indian woman Grandmaster

With this win, Deshmukh becomes only the fourth Indian woman to be awarded the Grandmaster title, joining the ranks of Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and R Vaishali.

The result also cements her status as one of the brightest young talents in international chess, with many expecting her to be a key contender in future world championship cycles.