Divya Deshmukh

Born: 9 December 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra

Achievement: First Indian Chess Player to Win the FIDE Women’s World Cup

About Divya Deshmukh

Divya Deshmukh, born on 9 December 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is the first Indian chess player to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup. She scripted history in the 2025 edition by defeating compatriot Koneru Humpy in the final. The landmark victory also earned her the Grandmaster title, making her the 88th Indian to achieve the feat and only the fourth Indian woman. Divya, whose parents are both doctors, began playing chess at the age of five and became India’s 21st Woman Grandmaster in 2021. In 2023, she earned the International Master title. Before her World Cup triumph, she helped the Indian women’s team clinch their maiden gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad.