Youngest Women's World Cup winner
"Definitely need to learn endgames (with a laugh). I am pretty sure at some point I messed it up. I am not sure how. It should be an easy win. I think I should not allow g4. I think maybe I should just go Ra3, Rf3, Rg3 and that should be a win." - Divya's initial world after winning the Women's World Cup. "I need time to process it. I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this, I did not have even one norm. Before this tournament, I was thinking where can I get my norm and now I am a Grandmaster." - Divya on winning the tournament. "It's hard for me to speak right now. It definitely means a lot, but of course there is a lot more to achieve, so I am hoping this is just a start."
"I need time to process it. I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this, I did not have even one norm. Before this tournament, I was thinking where can I get my norm and now I am a Grandmaster."
Tie-break Game 1: Divya - Humpy: 0.5-0.5
The first 15'+10" Rapid tie-break game between IM Divya Deshmukh (2395) and GM Koneru Humpy (2446) ended in a draw.
Game 2: Humpy - Divya: 0-1
One of the toughest things to do, is do nothing. In an equal major piece endgame, Humpy made an unnecessary pawn break.
40.e4?! was unnecessary dxe4 41.d5? Qe5-+ gave Black decisive advantage. 42.Rd1 Rd8 was needed. 42...cxd5 was played and the game got prolonged. The pressure of a World Cup Final and moreover nearly a month-long tough battles against world's top players is bound to take a toll.
54.Rxf4?? again put Black in control a4-+ After a bit of back and forth play, worthy of the Finals, Divya finally managed to win the game and become FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 champion.
"It's hard for me to speak right now. It definitely means a lot, but of course there is a lot more to achieve, so I am hoping this is just a start."
Path to Finals and results
Round 1: Bye
Round 2: IM Divya Deshmukh - WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO): 1.5-0.5
Round 3: IM Divya Deshmukh - IM Teodora Injac (SRB): 1.5-0.5
Round 4: GM Jiner Zhu C (CHN) - IM Divya Deshmukh: 1.5-2.5
Round 5: IM Divya Deshmukh - GM Harika Dronavalli: 3-1
Round 6: IM Divya Deshmukh - GM Zhongyi Tan: 1.5-0.5
Round 7: GM Koneru Humpy - IM Divya Deshmukh :1.5-2.5
Replay Round 7/Final Tie-break games live stream
Prizes
The total prize fund was US$ 691250 which will be distributed among 107 players. The top three prizes were $50000, $35000 and $25000.
