Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh: The Face of India’s New Chess Revolution

Who Is Divya Deshmukh?

Divya Deshmukh is a 19-year-old International Master and Grandmaster from Nagpur, Maharashtra—the first Indian woman ever to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. She clinched this historic victory in Batumi, Georgia, on July 28, 2025, defeating the seasoned Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in dramatic tiebreaks. Her relentless focus and calm under pressure have made her a symbol of India’s new golden generation in chess.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Education

Divya was raised in an academically inclined family, with both of her parents working as doctors. Despite her increasing chess commitments, she remained a dedicated student, balancing tournaments with schoolwork. She completed her schooling at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir in Nagpur and continues her studies through online and distance education.

Chess Journey: From Child Prodigy to World Cup Champion

• Early Start: Discovered chess at five, inspired by her older sister’s sporting pursuits.
• National Success: Won India’s Under-7 National Chess Championship in 2012, then world age-group titles in U-10 (Durban, 2014) and U-12 (Brazil, 2017).
• First Woman Grandmaster of Vidarbha: She became the first woman from Vidarbha to earn the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2021, followed by achieving the International Master (IM) title in 2023.
• Major Titles:
  • 2022: Won the Women’s Indian Chess Championship.
  • 2023: Gold at Asian Women’s Chess Championship and Tata Steel India Rapid Winner.
  • 2024: Captured World U20 Chess Championship gold; led India to double gold at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
  • 2025: Crowned FIDE Women’s World Cup Champion and became India’s fourth female Grandmaster.
• Playing Style: Known for her relentless calculation, psychological endurance, and composure during high-pressure endgames.

The 2025 World Cup Triumph

Divya’s breakthrough came at the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025. Facing India’s top player Koneru Humpy, Divya drew the classical games and won in rapid tiebreaks with black pieces. At 19, she not only shattered Indian records as the first champion but also directly earned her GM title—an extremely rare feat achieved only via world-level victory.

Achievements Snapshot

• 2025: First Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup.
• Fourth Woman Grandmaster in India’s history.
• Olympiad Gold Medallist: Board 3 gold (2024), part of team gold at 45th Olympiad (Budapest).
• Asian Women’s Champion (2023) and rapid chess champion.
• Individual medals: U-10 World Youth (2014), U-12 World Youth (2017), and more.

Net Worth and Recognition

Divya’s current net worth is estimated at ₹6–7 lakhs (July 2025), primarily from prize winnings and federation support. With ongoing endorsement opportunities likely following her historic win, her financial and brand profile are set to rise further.

“This definitely means a lot, but there is a lot more to achieve, so I am hoping that this is just the start.” — Divya Deshmukh, after her World Cup victory

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