Divya Deshmukh becomes fourth Indian female to earn the Grandmaster title

World's 44th female and India's overall 88th Grandmaster

"I think I had quite good opening preparation at this event. I think I fought in the end multiple times, has definitely led me to have some luck here." - Divya Deshmukh on answering the same question to IM Michael Rahal, FIDE Press Officer, the question which our Cofounder and CEO, IM Sagar Shah asked seven and half years ago, "Why do you think you keep winning all these tournaments? What do you think is something special or you are stronger than your opponent?"

"It was quite stressful, quite difficult. At least because it is also such a long event. You have to keep up your stamina, you have to be resistant and you have to show up on the board, every single day to give your best. Thankfully I was never in a situation where I was in must-win. So I don't know how I would have coped with that. Yeah I think the most difficult tournament of my career."

"I think Grandmaster title is something that would have eventually come, definitely come. I don't know when but it would have. So can't choose. I think the fact that both of them happened at the same time, makes it all the more special."

Vishy Anand, India's first GM in history, congratulated Divya

"I think maybe it was destiny that I got my title in one shot. The fact that I did not even have one norm before it and now I am a Grandmaster. That's why I think maybe it was meant to be."

Replay Divya's games at Women's World Cup 2025

"I think I have always said, failure makes you much more stronger than success. So these tournaments, all the struggles and being beaten left to right, I think that has definitely helped me to become what I am."

"She told me to have confidence in myself and to manage my time."

"...I think motivation is not a constant factor. I think sometimes there is, sometimes there isn't but you just have to push through it. At least that's what I have been doing. What I believe in is that, all I can do is, give my best and I don't control the results. So that's what I have been focusing on."

Songs that Divya had on her playlist during Women's World Cup

Divya's Best Achievements

• Champion - FIDE Women's World Cup 2025

• Champion - Tata Steel India Rapid Women 2023

• Gold - FIDE Online Olympiad 2020

• Gold - World Junior Girls 2023

• Gold - Asian Continental Women 2023

• Gold - Asian Continental Blitz Women 2022

• Gold - World Cadets Under-12 Girls 2017

• Gold - World Youth Under-10 Girls 2015

• Gold - World Youth Under-10 Girls 2014

• Gold - Commonwealth Under-14 Girls 2019

• Gold - Commonwealth Under-16 Girls 2018

• Gold - Commonwealth Under-12 Girls 2017

• Gold - Commonwealth Under-10 Girls 2015

• Gold - Western Asian Under-16 Girls Online 2021

• Gold - Asian Youth Under-14 Girls Blitz 2018

• Gold - Asian Youth Under-12 Girls Blitz 2017

• Gold - Asian Youth Under-12 Girls Classical and Blitz 2015

• Gold - Asian Youth Under-10 Girls 2015

• Gold - Asian Youth Under-10 Girls Blitz 2014

• Gold - Asian Schools Under-7 Girls Classical and Blitz 2012

• Gold - 20th National Team Women Individual Board #2 Gold

• Gold - 6th Global Festival - Intercontinental Online Youth Team Cup 2020

• Silver for Hexamind Chess Team - World Rapid Team 2025

• Silver - Asian Continental Blitz Women 2023

• Silver - Asian Youth Under-16 Girls Online 2021

• Silver - World Youth Under-14 Girls 2019

• Silver - Western Asian Under-20 Open Junior Blitz 2019

• Silver - World Youth Under-16 Olympiad 2018

• Silver - Asian Youth Under-12 Girls Rapid 2016 and 2017

• Bronze - 44th Olympiad Women 2022 Team and Individual

• Bronze for Hexamind Chess Team - World Blitz Team 2025

• Bronze for Turk Hava Yollari Sports Club - Turkish Is Bankasi Sports League 2024

• Bronze - Asian Continental Women 2022

• Bronze - World Youth Under-14 Girls 2018

• Bronze - Asian Youth Under-12 Girls 2017

• Bronze - World Cadets Under-12 Girls 2016

• Bronze - World Cadets Under-10 Girls 2015

• Champion - Sharjah Challengers 2024

• Champion - 47th and 48th National Women 2022

• Champion - Velammal-AICF Woman Grandmaster Round Robin 2019

• Champion for Airports Authority of India - 20th National Team Women 2023

• Champion for Airports Authority of India - 19th National Team Women 2022

• Runner-up for Garuda Ajka BSK - 28th European Club Cup Women 2024

• Second Runner-up - FIDE Women's Grand Prix Pune 2025

• Second Runner-up - 46th National Women 2019

• Champion - 36th National Under-15 Girls 2019

• Champion - 35th National Under-15 Girls 2018

• Champion - 34th National Under-15 Girls 2017

• Champion - 30th National Under-11 Girls 2016

• Champion - 5th National Schools Under-11 Girls 2016

• Champion - 27th National Under-9 Girls 2013

• Champion - 26th National Under-7 Girls 2012

• Runner-up - 31st National Under-13 Girls 2017

• Runner-up - 29th National Under-11 Girls 2015

• Second Runner-up - National Schools Under-7 Girls 2012

• Champion - Maharashtra State Under-11 Girls 2014

• Runner-up - Maharashtra State Under-14 Girls 2014-15

• Runner-up - Maharashtra State Under-19 Girls 2015

Videos

More Divya videos on our channel 

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