Indian Divya Deshmukh Reaches FIDE Women’s World Cup Final, First to Qualify for Candidates

International Master Divya Deshmukh has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to qualify for the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament after advancing to the final of the FIDE Women's World Chess Cup in Batumi, Georgia. She secured her spot by defeating former women's world champion Zhongyi Tan of China in the semifinals, winning the mini-match 1.5-0.5 with a strategic game featuring the Alapin Sicilian, culminating in a 101-move battle. Divya's remarkable journey included earlier victories over top players such as second seed Zhu Jiner and Indian Grandmaster D Harika, demonstrating her rapid growth and resilience in high-level competition. In a parallel semifinal, Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy drew her match against China's top seed Lei Tingjie, leading to a tie-break to determine who will face Divya in the final. Observers have noted Divya's maturity and composure at just 19 years old, with her progress accelerated by recent exposure to elite events like the Chess Olympiad and FIDE Grand Prix. This milestone signals a rising prominence of Indian women in the global chess arena, complementing the country's growing strength in men's chess.