New Delhi, July 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised Divya Deshmukh after the 19-year-old Indian chess player was crowned the FIDE Women's World Chess Champion 2025. The teenager from Nagpur became the youngest Indian woman ever to achieve this feat. PM Modi took to his official social media account and hailed both the finalists, including Koneru Humpy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official social media account and said, "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."
In a first of its kind all-Indian final in the history of Women's Chess World Cup will be remembered as a chess classic. This went down to the wire and was eventually decided in rapid tiebreaks. But in the crucial third tie-breaker, Humpy under immense time pressure made an uncharacteristic error. Deshmukh seized the opportunity with precision and composure, securing her place in history and becoming the 88th Grandmaster of India.
Moments after her victory, Deshmukh was seen in tears as she hugged her mother. The heart-warming video hit the internet and went viral on social media.
From Underdog to Champion
Despite being an international master and the reigning World Junior Champion, Divya entered the final as an underdog. Her opponent Koneru Humpy ranked World No. 5 and was seen as the favourite due to her experience and previous world titles. Divya who ranked World No. 18 defied the odds with exceptional resilience and focus.
Speaking to the media after the match, Divya said, “It was fate. Before the tournament, I was thinking that I could maybe earn a Grandmaster norm here. And at the end, I became a Grandmaster.”
A Milestone for Indian Chess
Divya Deshmukh is now the fourth Indian woman to win the Women’s Chess World Cup, joining the elite ranks of Indian chess royalty. This final also marked the first time in history that two Indian women competed for the world crown, signaling the growing strength of Indian women in the global chess scene.
