Chess
FIDE Women's World Cup Highlights: Divya Deshmukh crowned champion
Highlights from Divya Deshmukh's historic title win at FIDE Women's World Cup.
FIDE Women's World Cup Highlights: Divya Deshmukh bagged the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup title with a thrilling win over the experienced Koneru Humpy in Batumi, Georgia on Monday.
The 19-year-old Deshmukh registered a win with the black pieces in the second 15-minute rapid game to pocket the USD 50,000 dollar title.
Deshmukh also earned the Grandmaster title with this win, becoming only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this feat after Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali.
Highlights:
Live Updates
- 28 July 2025 10:47 AM GMT
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That's all we have from the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup. Divya Deshmukh has etched herself in Indian sports history, becoming the first-ever woman from the country to win the title.
Deshmukh was on a giant killing spree from the quarter-finals beating the likes of Zhu Jiner, Harika Dronavalli, and finally Koneru Humpy - all Grandmasters and rated higher than her - during her dream run.
She also returns with the GM title in the bag, without having to slog it out for the norms. Overall stuff of dreams for the teenager.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for the Koneru Humpy. She gave it her all in this tournament. Earn the distinction of becoming the first Indian woman to qualify for FIDE World Cup semi-finals but eventually fell short.
But as Viswanathan Anand said, "It was self inflicted."
Thank you for joining into our coverage. See you next time!
- 28 July 2025 10:29 AM GMT
"It was fate"
"I need time to process it," says Divya Deshmukh immediately after her win to FIDE. "I think it was fate [earning the GM title]. Before this I did not have even one norm. Before the tournament I was thinking I can get one norm, now I am Grandmaster.
"There is a lot more to achieve. This is just a start," she adds.
- 28 July 2025 10:24 AM GMT
"It was self inflicted"
Some harsh words from Viswanathan Anand for Koneru Humpy.
"It [the loss] was self inflicted," says Anand on the reigning women's world rapid champion's questionable play.
- 28 July 2025 10:23 AM GMT
Divya Deshmukh WINSSSS!
Divya Deshmukh is the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup champion. Koneru Humpy realises she can't stop Deshmukh from promoting to a queen and resigns.
Deshmukh breaks down on the board. She is now India's 88th Grandmaster. She has done the unthinkable!
- 28 July 2025 10:19 AM GMT
Divya has this in the bag
Just a formality now...Divya Deshmukh is just moments away
