Divya Deshmukh makes right moves; Gukesh fails to impress

A starry-eyed teenager Divya Deshmukh winning the Women’s Chess World Cup in faraway Batumi this year not only showcased India’s unfathomable depth of talent in the sport but also reaffirmed the country’s status as the new hub of the game in the world. Just when it seemed the aura of D. Gukesh, who became world champion in 2024, was on the wane after suffering a string of losses this year, the 19-year-old Nagpur girl emerged from nowhere and achieved three career milestones with one signature triumph.

Divya not only became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, she also instantly secured the prestigious Grandmaster title, bypassing the usual “norms” required to earn it. Divya, whose parents are doctors, also secured an automatic qualification for the 2026 Candidates tournament, where the winner will earn the right to challenge the reigning Women’s world champion Ju Wenjun of China. On that eventful day in July, Divya’s victory also shifted the contours of women’s chess in the country, which relied on two-time world rapid champion Koneru Humpy and Dronavalli Harika. The two women have been the torchbearers of the sport in the country for nearly two decades.