Overview

• Divya Deshmukh held veteran Koneru Humpy to two classical draws before clinching the title in rapid tiebreaks.
• Her victory awarded the final Grandmaster norm, making her the 88th Indian GM and the first Indian woman to win the Women’s World Cup.
• Both finalists have qualified for the upcoming Women’s Candidates Tournament.
• The all-Indian final featured a 19-year-old rising star against a 38-year-old pioneer, marking a generational shift in the sport.
• Deshmukh’s breakthrough underscores India’s surge in international chess following strong showings at the 2024 Olympiad and rapid world championships.