In a historic development for Indian chess, Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh have stormed into the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, setting up an all-Indian summit clash. This is the first time that two Indian women have reached the final of a World Cup event, underlining the country’s growing prowess in the international chess arena.
Koneru Humpy, a former World Rapid Champion, displayed her experience and calm under pressure to beat her Chinese opponent in a closely contested semi-final. On the other board, teenage prodigy Divya Deshmukh stunned yet another top-seeded Chinese player to earn her spot in the final.
Chess legend Viswanathan Anand lauded the achievement, saying, “It’s a proud day for Indian chess. We are witnessing the rise of a new era.”
The final match is set to be held later this week and has already drawn global attention. Analysts believe this milestone will significantly boost women’s chess in India and inspire a new generation of players.
