New Delhi, India | July 29, 2025: Nineteen-year-old Divya Deshmukh has etched her name in history, becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Georgia. Her remarkable victory, achieved by defeating fellow Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a thrilling final, has ignited celebrations across the nation, drawing praise from top political leaders.
In the Lok Sabha today, Speaker Om Birla led the Lower House in congratulating both Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy for their exceptional performance. “I would like to inform you that India’s Divya Deshmukh has won the FIDE Women’s World Cup Final in Batumi, Georgia. She is the first Indian woman to win this competition. Along with this, she has also become India’s fourth women’s chess grandmaster,” Birla announced. He expressed immense pride that both Indian players reached the final, calling it “great news for India.”
“The entire world has seen that we congratulate both the Indian players who reached the final of this special women’s competition. In addition to these two Indian women players, there is an atmosphere of joy and excitement throughout the country. Their victory will give great inspiration to all Indians, especially our youth. This assembly congratulates Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy for this great achievement. We wish them all the best for their future,” he added, highlighting the profound impact of their success.
Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha Speaker Harivansh also opened the session by hailing Divya Deshmukh’s triumph, underscoring the widespread recognition of her achievement.
PM Modi and President Murmu Lead National Acclaim
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt congratulations to both players, recognizing their “remarkable efforts.” On X, PM Modi wrote, “A historic final featuring two outstanding Indian chess players! Proud of the young Divya Deshmukh on becoming FIDE Women’s World Chess Champion 2025. Congratulations to her for this remarkable feat, which will inspire several youngsters. Koneru Humpy has also displayed immense prowess throughout the championship. Best wishes to both players for their future endeavours.”
President Droupadi Murmu also lauded Divya’s historic win, tweeting, “My heartiest congratulations to Divya Deshmukh who has become the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, that too, at a very young age of nineteen.”
A Gripping Final and a Historic Milestone
Divya, a rising sensation in the world of chess, secured her victory over the seasoned Koneru Humpy in the final via tiebreaks on Monday evening. This momentous win also makes her just the fourth Indian woman grandmaster and the 88th Indian overall to clinch that prestigious title.
The tense contest saw a string of inaccuracies from Koneru in the second rapid game, ultimately contributing to her downfall. Finding herself a pawn down in a crucial rook endgame, the veteran player resigned on the 75th move, conceding the gripping final with a score of 2.5-1.5 in Divya’s favor.
While Divya initially failed to capitalize on some earlier opportunities presented by Koneru’s inaccurate moves, she seized the moment when Koneru made a critical error by capturing the f-pawn on move 69. This decisive move shifted the tide, allowing Divya to play the precise moves needed to force Koneru’s resignation after just six more moves.
Overwhelmed by the magnitude of her victory, Divya’s eyes welled up with tears as she embraced her mother in a heartfelt moment, truly grasping the scale of her groundbreaking achievement.