On July 28, 2025, in Batumi in Georgia, Indian chess witnessed history. Nineteen -year -old Divy Destymukh, an amazing talent from Nagpur, defeated the legendary Humpy conera in the high -pressure final to win the World Women’s Fide Cup. At the same time, she not only secured her greatest title of her career, but also became the Indian Fourth Female Grandmother.
That Her victory came through tiebreakers It was no surprise for those who watched her way. Wonder thrives at the moments of the clutch. Her child coach, international master Srinath Narayanan, compares his nerves to anyone other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“It has this mysterious ability to rise in crisis situations similar to Dhoni, which has pulled the victory in the final,” PTI told PTI “Wonder will appear when it matters most. It is incredibly under pressure in big games. I have seen it since 2018.”
In the finals against Humpy-twice, her age and one of the most decorated Indian players were stifled. After two tense classic draws, she caught her moment in the second fast tiebreaker and played a deeply accurate end game to clean her opponent. When she shook her hands and hugged her mother in the crowd, tears flowed.
“It certainly means a lot,” wonders said moments after victory. “But of course, there’s a lot more. So I hope it’s just the beginning.” In recent years, the exhibition has shaped its play. It is no coincidence that Humpy surpassed the segment, just months after the veteran won the title of the world quick chess itself.
“He’s a pretty aggressive player. But over time, Wonder has become the most versatile, versatile. I think she is equally strong in all classic, fast and blitz formats,” says Srinath.
Wonder began to beat the best business in her own courts. Since the victory of the Gold at the Chess Olympics 2024 in Budapest, where in September 2024 she recorded an exceptional 9.5/11 to the Master World U20 girls, conquered every phase. Her fearless opening elections, love for sharp tactics and spirit never scored to watch her in the coming years.
Random
What makes Stonder’s journey more remarkable is how it started by chance.
As a child, she should have accompanied her older sister to badminton classes. But the net was too high to achieve a four -year -old. A chess class took place near the same building. Her parents wrote her instead.
Since then, a star was born. Wonder, brought up by a doctor in Nagpur, took the game with a surprising speed. At the age of 13, she was already known for her Pois under pressure-video from 2017 shows that young Wonder says she is not afraid of every opponent and never tired to fight until the end.
Great conqueror
Until 2018, Srinath saw his gift. They both met in front of the U-16 World Olympics in Turkey. In the last round of this tournament Wonder defeated the highest Iranian player under huge pressure and helped India silver. “She was stronger than most girls of her age. And she had this incredible talent for great moments,” he recalls.
Its development was not completely smooth. Like many young athletes, Divya experienced peace during the Covid-19 pandemic, taking time to study in 2020 and 2022. But until 2023 he yelled.
In June 2025, in London, World No. 1 Hou Yifan at the World Championship in Team Rapid & Blitz. After sacrificing the middle game of the pawn and the start of a powerful central attack, Yifan forced Yifan to resign after 74 grasping moves.
The instinct of giant interference would appear in Batumi.
Unconventional
Divya’s Grandmaster title-India is 88 and the fourth among women who did not come through the traditional route of the accumulation of three GM standards and exceeding the evaluation of 2500, but through total brilliance.
“I had no norm before,” she said with a smile, talking to Fide after victory. “I was thinking,” where can I get my norm? “And now I’m a great master.
According to FIDE rules, winners of certain elite events can bypass the conventional journey and become a GMS directly and the Women’s World Cup is one of them. In three weeks of faith, Divya captured the title, booked a place in the tournament of applicants 2026 and created history.
Despite his triumph, he remains anchored. “I definitely have to learn the end games. I’m sure I went wrong at one point. It was supposed to be an easy victory,” she admitted.
Chess Renaissance Champion
Divya’s rise is a symbolic Indian new golden generation in chess Young, courageous and falls of self -confidence that is close to male stars, such as the world champion D Gukesh.
Now it is one of the favorite to question the Women’s World Championship. It will join the 2026 candidates tournament for Runes-up Humpy and the third former world champion Tan Zhongyi.
“She is very strong. And she was already in the level of the Grand Master before her potential,” says Srinath.
“I think he has a very good chance to become the world of the world woman-or at least firmly on this journey. In general, she is quite convinced that she is going to big tournaments.”
With peace as its superpower, a random beginning and fate carved through gravel and genius, the story of Divy Deshmukh is decisive by the chapter in the Indian chess renaissance of the 21st century.
Only 19, her biggest movements are likely to come. And just like Dhoni did it with a bat, Divya does it on 64 squares and with unshakable nerves.
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
28th July 2025
