Divya Deshmukh has created history! The Indian chess player has secured a place in the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup by defeating former world champion Tan Zhongyi. With this, she has become the first Indian woman player to reach the World Cup final.
FIDE Women's World Cup 2025: Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh has created history by securing a place in the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. She achieved this historic feat by defeating former world champion Tan Zhongyi. With this, Divya has also qualified for the Candidates Tournament 2026, which is another step towards the world title. She has become the first woman chess player from India to achieve this feat.
Spectacular Victory over Tan Zhongyi in the Semifinal
19-year-old Divya Deshmukh surprised everyone by defeating Chinese legend and former world champion Tan Zhongyi in the semi-final of the Women's Chess World Cup. The match was extremely tense, but Divya turned it in her favor with her excellent game. With this victory, she not only secured a place in the final but also took another step towards becoming a Grandmaster, as she has also received a Grandmaster norm from this tournament.
After the win, Divya gave a very humble reaction. She said, "I think I could have played better. At one point, I was completely in a winning position, but some mistakes happened in the middle game, which made the match challenging. I think the win could have been easier." This reaction reflects her dedication and self-reflection towards the game.
Journey so far in the Tournament
Divya has performed brilliantly in this tournament. Prior to this, she defeated Zhu Jiner of China and experienced Indian player D. Harika to reach the semi-finals. Now, in the final match, she will face Koneru Humpy or Tingjie Lei of China. The match between Humpy and Lei has ended in a draw, and their decision will be made by a tie-breaker.
Divya was born on December 9, 2005, in the city of Nagpur, Maharashtra. She comes from a Marathi family, where both her parents are doctors. Her talent for chess began to emerge at a young age.
- In 2021, she won the title of Women's Grandmaster (WGM).
- In 2023, she received the title of International Master (IM).
- She also won the Indian Chess Championship in 2022 and the Asian Women's Chess Championship (Almaty) in 2023.
Historical Achievement for India
Divya's victory is not only a milestone for her individual career but also writes a new chapter in the history of Indian chess. Before this, many women chess players from India have been successful at the international level, but the honor of being the first Indian woman to reach the final of the Women's World Cup is now in Divya's name.
