D Gukesh Hails Divya Deshmukh’s World Cup Win News24 –
In what has been a meteoric rise for Indian chess, the past two years have witnessed a golden era unfold – punctuated by milestone victories, rising prodigies, and a growing global presence. While D Gukesh’s historic World Championship triumph earlier this year set the world ablaze, the recent success of 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh at the FIDE Women’s World Cup signals that Indian chess’s ascent is far from over.
Held in Batumi, Georgia, the tournament saw Divya emerge as the champion, securing not just the prestigious title, but also earning direct qualification to the Candidates Tournament – an important stepping stone in the path to the Women’s World Championship. In an even more remarkable feat, Divya clinched the Grandmaster (GM) title, doing so through her performance in the event, making her one of the few Indian women to reach this milestone directly.
Divya’s Victory Earns Praise from World Champion Gukesh
In a heartening show of camaraderie and mutual respect, World Champion D Gukesh lauded Divya’s achievement, recalling their shared journey through India’s chess circuits since childhood.
“We basically grew up together. We played in the same tournaments right from when we were eight or nine years old. The way Divya won the World Cup was really inspiring. It is not easy to win the tournament – you have to play regularly for a month. I have played the World Cup two times, so I know how difficult it is to win,” Gukesh said during a recent event hosted by Velammal Nexus to honour Mount Everest conqueror Ashish.
The Chennai-based champion also praised veteran Koneru Humpy, who lost to Divya in the final, underlining the importance of strong performances in both the men’s and women’s formats for the growth of Indian chess.
“Both of them played amazingly well. For Indian chess, it is important that we have good results in both men (open) and women.”
Gukesh Targets World Cup Glory on Home Soil
Having tasted success on the biggest stage in classical chess, Gukesh now turns his attention to the FIDE World Cup, set to take place in India later this year. With a strong home crowd behind him and fresh motivation following Divya’s triumph, the 18-year-old has already confirmed his participation.
“For sure, I will take part in the World Cup. I am really excited and looking forward to it. In chess, we do not have many knockout events, so the World Cup is the biggest knockout tournament. After the Olympiad (in 2022), India hosting a big event is important for Indian chess,” said Gukesh.
Gukesh, who has competed in two editions of the World Cup without yet securing the title, will aim to add the missing piece to his already glittering resume. Should he succeed, India will complete an unprecedented World Cup double in 2025 with Divya ruling the women’s side and Gukesh or another male contender doing the same in the open category.
The New Golden Generation of Indian Chess
India’s success in chess is no longer a solitary narrative dominated by the likes of Viswanathan Anand. A new generation has arrived with Gukesh, Divya, Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, and Vaishali among those flying the flag with pride and performance.
Divya’s breakthrough only strengthens the case that Indian chess is on a trajectory to long-term dominance across all formats and divisions. At just 19, she has already conquered one of the sport’s biggest challenges, and her journey has only just begun.
With India set to host the FIDE World Cup, and its brightest stars ready to shine, the chess board is set and the world is watching.
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