Divya Deshmukh Creates History, Storms into Finals

India’s 19-year-old chess prodigy, IM Divya Deshmukh, scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup, following a sensational victory over GM Tan Zhongyi of China.

After a steady draw in Game 1, the second game turned into a thrilling battle filled with twists, turns, and mutual errors. In the end, it was Tan who blundered at the critical moment, allowing Divya to seize the win. With a 1.5–0.5 match score, Divya not only secured her spot in the championship final but also earned her first-ever Grandmaster norm—an important milestone in her rising career.

In the other semifinal, GM Koneru Humpy came tantalizingly close to defeating GM Lei Tingjie (CHN), but their encounter ended in a hard-fought draw after a tense rook-and-pawn endgame. With both classical games drawn, the second finalist will be decided in the tiebreak playoffs on July 23, where the winner will meet Divya in the title clash.