In one of the most remarkable breakthroughs Indian chess has seen in recent years, 19-year-old IM Divya Deshmukh has stormed into the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia an achievement that not only underlines her prodigious talent but also reshapes the landscape of Indian women’s chess.
This is a moment that carries several historic firsts: Divya becomes the first Indian woman ever to reach the World Cup final and only the third Indian overall, after legendary Viswanathan Anand and rising star R Praggnanandhaa, to achieve this milestone. More than just a single result, her semifinal triumph over former Women’s World Champion GM Tan Zhongyi is a career-defining moment that has secured her a place in the next Women’s Candidates Tournament, earned her first-ever Grandmaster norm, and announced her arrival on the global stage.
A Triumph Against a Giant
Facing China’s Tan Zhongyi, a seasoned grandmaster and Candidates winner, was always going to be a formidable test. The first game of the semifinal ended in a tense draw, leaving everything riding on the second classical game. There, Divya played fearlessly, embracing complexity and refusing to be overawed by Tan’s reputation. Her dynamic play paid off: she clinched a wild and hard-fought victory, knocking out Tan 1.5–0.5 and booking her ticket to the final.
It’s worth noting that this is the first time Divya has defeated Tan Zhongyi in classical chess, making the win even sweeter and symbolically significant. This wasn’t just an upset; it was the confident stride of a player whose game has matured to the level where she can topple the very best.
Securing a Place Among the Elite
With this result, Divya achieves what many young players only dream of: qualification to the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026. The Candidates is the most exclusive and competitive event in women’s chess, where the winner earns the right to challenge for the world title currently held by China’s Ju Wenjun. Only the top three finishers at the World Cup qualify, and by reaching the final, Divya has at least secured silver, making her spot certain.
At just 19, she also becomes the first teenager in 34 years to qualify for the Candidates, underscoring how rare and exceptional this achievement truly is.
Chasing a Grandmaster Title
Divya’s semifinal run does more than boost her standing; it has tangible consequences for her chess career. By beating opponents of such high calibre and reaching this stage, Divya has now secured her first Grandmaster norm. To become a Grandmaster the highest title in chess a player needs three norms and a FIDE rating above 2500. If Divya can continue this momentum and collect two more norms, she would become India’s next GM.
But there is another, even faster path: should Divya go on to win the Women’s World Cup final, she would directly qualify as a Grandmaster regardless of her rating or remaining norms. That is the magnitude of what lies ahead.
A Trailblazer for Indian Women’s Chess
Divya’s feat has a deeper significance. Until now, Indian chess history at this level has largely been written by men from Vishy Anand’s World Championship reign to the new generation led by Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Gukesh. Indian women’s chess has seen steady progress, but no player had yet broken into a World Cup final.
With this run, Divya becomes the first Indian woman ever to do so, inspiring countless young players and giving Indian women’s chess a new benchmark. She now stands shoulder to shoulder with Anand and Praggnanandhaa in World Cup finals, a reminder that talent knows no gender and that Indian chess is finally seeing its women rise to the very top.
From Nagpur to the World Stage
Born in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Divya Deshmukh has been recognised as a bright talent since her junior days. But this performance, coming at just 19, elevates her from “promising prodigy” to a genuine contender on the world stage. It also signals that she is ready not just to participate in elite events, but to shape them.
Her qualification for the Candidates ensures she will remain part of world championship discussions for at least the next cycle and possibly beyond. And if she manages to go all the way in Batumi and win the World Cup, she would instantly become a GM and one of the favourites for the Candidates itself.
A Defining Moment for Indian Chess
Divya’s run is not just about her. It marks a new chapter for Indian chess: one where women players stand alongside their male counterparts in the most prestigious events, where they fight for world titles, and where the next generation sees real role models who look like them.
In the coming days, Divya will face the final test: the Women’s World Cup final itself. But regardless of the result, what she has achieved already is historic: a first-ever World Cup final appearance by an Indian woman, a confirmed place in the Candidates, a GM norm, and a headline-making win over a former World Champion.
From Nagpur to Batumi, Divya Deshmukh’s journey has just reached its most thrilling chapter yet and all of Indian chess will be watching to see how far this remarkable 19-year-old can go.
