There are very few cases in sport where it can be said with certainty: “Jeetega this India Hi” (only India will win). You can’t say it in cricket, hockey, badminton or any other sport. But in chess, this statement now has a weight. Indian dominance in sport has become so complex that the result often feels like a lost conclusion. The World Cup of Chess 2025 in Batumi was the culmination of this dominance.
Consider context. The final between the Konero Humpy and Divya Deshmukh was dubbed with the “clash of generations”. Humpy, Bonafide great and inspiration for countless Indian female chess players, faced almost half of her age. Humpy has already organized a remarkable second wind and returned from motherhood to win two world quick titles. On the other hand, Divya did her brand in the Olympics and junior tournaments.
Divya Student passes to Humpy’s teacher
Humpy is heading to the World Championship and was considered one of the favorite. Wonder, while talented, was seen as a loser who could potentially cause upset. But as the tournament proceeded, both players found themselves at a collision course.
Wonder took off the best Chinese players like Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi on the way to the finals. Last month, the world number one defeated Hou Yifan at the Fast and Blitz World Championship – the performance that gained praise from the Indian premiere of Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Humpy defeated heavy weights like Lei Tingjie and former world champion Alexander Konenuk.
The last one saw both players looking for opportunities in the classic game, but the game ended in draw. Humpy seemed to have a double world champion in the quick master of fast tiebreaks, has the upper hand. Wonder, however, held a psychological advantage when she defeated Humpy last year in a quick round of Tata Steel Masters.
In Batumi it was wonders who showed more initiative. Game 1 was a strategic battle; Wonder agreed to a draw only when no opposition remained. The game 2 was another competition until the door opened a single mistake by Humpy. Wonder almost dropped the advantage of being too aggressive, but the second fatal mistake of Humpy had closed the match under time pressure.
Wonderland was a testimony to modern chess – accurate, psychological and based on misuse of mistakes. Her early rush of movements gave her a significant advantage, while Humply’s slower game left her vulnerable. Eventually the student won the teacher in a dramatic way.
Success Divya reflects the dominance of India chess
The victory of Divy Deshmukh over Humpy Koner was more than just a personal triumph. It was a topping on the cake for Indian chess. Since Gukesh D qualified for candidates in December 2023, Indian players have seen unprecedented success at all levels.
Gukesh not only won the candidates, but also followed him with double gold – individually for the team. Similarly, Wonderland shone at the Olympics and won individual and team gold when India finished twice as much. Gukesh’s victory over Ding Liren at the World Championship brought chess back to the main Indian consciousness for the first time since the top of Viswanathan Anand.
Momentum did not slow down. Pragggnanandhaa won titles in Uzches, Tata Steel Chess and Superbet Romania. Gukesh beat Magnus Carlsen in both fast and classic format, the latter on Carlsen’s own backyard in Norway Stavanger. This victory was repeated by Carlsen’s victory over Anand in Chennai in 2013, but this time the tables turned. Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin also found success on the circuit.
In the Junior category, Venkatesh is now a world junior champion and India packed three gold medals in the Fide 2025 World Cup cadets in events under 10 years and up to 12 years organized in Georgia.
The Divya title is simply the latest milestone in the golden era. All eyes are now changing to 2026, where both Wonder and Humpy will try to qualify and win female candidates. If India can produce winners in both open and women categories, they will confirm that Indian dominance in chess is no coincidence. The foundation is laid. Mission for 2026 is clear: Maintain a success that has delivered 2025.
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Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
29. July 2025
