Rising Star Shines: Divya’s Epic Win Redefines Indian Chess Glory

Divya Deshmukh’s victory over Koneru Humpy in the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 final marks a generational shift, as the 19-year-old prodigy defeated a veteran who set a record as the youngest female grandmaster in 2002, highlighting the rapid rise of new talent in Indian chess.

This win adds to India’s chess dominance, with Deshmukh joining Humpy as the fourth Indian to win the World Junior Girls’ title, a feat backed by India’s recent Olympiad success, fueled by a 2023 government initiative investing $5 million in chess training programs.