Divya Deshmukh: How a Nagpur girl became India's brand new Chess queen

In 2025, Divya Deshmukh secured a historic win at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi. The 19-year-old defeated Koneru Humpy in a tense final. This victory made her the first Indian woman to win the title. She also earned the Grandmaster title. Divya's journey from Nagpur included balancing chess with academics.