The Indian meteoric rise began in March-Duba 2024 with Gukesh’s triumph candidates, followed by the World Championship 12th December 2024 at the age of 18. She became the title of 88. Grandmaster and the youngest World Championship winner.
Since her victory, Wonder has been flooded with congratulations. In her hometown Nagpur she received a great welcome and since then she has met the Minister of Sport Mansukh Mandaviya and the main Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis.
Now, five days after her triumph, wonder today spoke to India and described the emotional roller coaster of the final, its aggressive style of playing, Indian domination over China in recent months, and how it has balanced performance with personality.
An excerpt from an interview
Q) Wonder, it’s been five days. You entered Batumi as an international master and a strong candidate for the World Cup title. Five days later-only 88. Grand master, world championship winner, with candidates. You met the main minister. How much sleep did you have? Did you recover? Are you still processing it?
Divya Deshmukh: I didn’t sleep. It was quite a messy week, but I think it is a kind of chaos that people want, so I can’t complain much. But yes, I definitely need much more time to recover.
Q) What were your thoughts when Humpy’s Konera made a final mistake? What did you feel in the first moments when you realized you were going to win the World Championship?
Divya Deshmukh: I was so focused on the game and you can’t let the emotions take over until it is always-there is always no chance of fighting. For me he was about 30 seconds to resign when it hit. I didn’t have much time to process it. And as soon as she really resigned, it was a flood of emotions. It was quite unreal.
Q) There is a viral video about you, Gukesh and Leon Mendonco discussing the nuances of the game. Your game in The Rapid Tiebreakers was aggressive, despite drawing openings such as Catalan and Queen’s Gambit. Where does this aggression come from? What does it drive?
Divya Deshmukh: I think it’s just the way I was brought up. It has always been with a new new one. For me, it is only built to look for aggressive ways to complicate the game. I think I keep better in these situations. So yes, it’s natural.
Q) What was one game in a tournament that gave you confidence that you could go all the way and win the title?
Divya Deshmukh: I always had faith in myself and faith that I wanted to go to the title. But I really didn’t focus on it, just focused on taking one game at once. After I arrived at the finals, I thought, okay, maybe now it’s time to really fight for the title.
Q) Can we call you a “Chinese killer of Grand Masters”? At the World Cup you defeated Hou Yifan at the World Championship in Rych and Blitz, Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi. What made you so consistent with the best Chinese? Is there a special weakness you revealed?
Divya Deshmukh: This is a difficult question. I don’t know if it’s about them, really. They are all very strong players. But I didn’t do anything new-I fought to the end. I think it helped me.
Q) Your introductory preparations and defensive end games were solid. You mentioned your Hungarian second, which burned for you midnight oil. What modifications did you make between the Rapid/Team Blitz world and the World Cup chess?
Divya Deshmukh: It’s not really comparable-they can two completely different tournaments. First, the format: The World Cup is classic, not fast or blitz. Fast events are slightly less stressful and happen every year. The World Cup only happens every two years. This was also a team event; He was an individual. So yes, the preparation was very different. I had to work much harder. And it was also a test of emotional, physical and mental resistance, because it is an elimination format and you can be out at any time.
Q) After victory, you said it was “fate”. And you would beat Humpy in front of Tata steel in rapids. But why does it describe this title as fate? From the outside, your game looked firm and earned.
Divya Deshmukh: I said “fate” with reference to how I won the title GM-Sun about Humpy injury. Before I went to the tournament, I had no GM standards. And then I went from IM to GM without standards overnight. That’s why I called it fate.
Q) Obviously, we are in the golden era-Gukesh, he is the world champion at the age of 18, Pranav Venkatesh is a world junior champion, you and Humpy are in candidates. But on the other hand, you are still only the fourth Indian female grandmaster. Why do you think India did not produce more GMS women? Do you hope it will change now?
Divya Deshmukh: Definitely. When I reached the final, I was very happy because it is a great thing for Indian chess. Whether I win or win Humpy, it will inspire young girls in both directions. I really hope it motivates them. And with a recent chess boom it is quite obvious-it is not over. There will be many others.
Q) You were called the “CEO”. Dina Belenkaya called you “Bollywood Girl”. The clothes you wore have also become symbolic people, he said you were constantly won because of the color of your clothes! Now, will you head for big Swiss and candidates, will you think about your chess or wardrobe?
Divya Deshmukh: (laughs) No, of course not. I do not spend much energy thinking about what I wear. Maybe it takes 1 percent of my mind. It’s something that helps me feel confidently and I do it. But the focus is chess. Definitely not clothes.
– ends
Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
3rd August 2025
