Bhubaneswar: Indian chess prodigy Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh, the reigning FIDE Women’s World Cup champion, has been awarded a wildcard entry to compete in the FIDE World Cup 2025. The prestigious knockout event will take place in Goa from October 30 to November 27. This wildcard came after a last-minute cancellation by one of the participants and following invitations to reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun and former champion Hou Yifan, both of whom declined the offer.
At just 19 years old, Deshmukh has made significant strides in the chess world. She made headlines earlier this year by winning the historic FIDE Women’s World Cup, defeating veteran compatriot Koneru Humpy in a thrilling final match, a victory that also qualified her for the Women’s Candidates tournament. This success made her the 88th Grandmaster of India and the fourth Indian female to earn the title, after Humpy Koneru, Harika Dronavalli, and R. Vaishali.
Recently, Divya impressed while competing in the Open section of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand, scoring 5 points out of 11 rounds against top-rated male players. She finished ahead of established Grandmasters like Karthikeyan Murali, Boris Gelfand, Levon Aronian, and Alexander Grischuk, and drew with Aleksandra Goryachkina, another female player who received a wildcard to the Grand Swiss. Her strong performance against a highly competitive field highlights her growing prowess beyond female-only events.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky acknowledged her wildcard selection was partly to ensure female representation in the World Cup, a tournament predominantly featuring male grandmasters. He emphasized the importance of supporting and incentivizing women in chess to help them grow, stating that while Deshmukh earned the wildcard due to her strong performances, providing opportunities for women players remains a priority for the federation.
Deshmukh’s wildcard places her among six players granted special entries for the World Cup, alongside rising stars like USA’s Abhimanyu Mishra and Argentina’s Faustino Oro. The event will bring together 206 top players from around the world fighting in a knockout format where the top three finishers secure spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the World Chess Championship.
With her recent achievements and rising reputation, Divya Deshmukh’s entry into the Open section of the FIDE World Cup is a major milestone for Indian chess and women’s chess globally. Competing on home soil in Goa will add to the excitement as she seeks to extend her winning momentum and challenge some of the world’s best players.
This wildcard entry is not just an opportunity but a testament to her exceptional talent and a promising future in mixed-gender international chess competition. Her journey could inspire more women to follow in her footsteps and elevate the visibility and competitiveness of women’s chess worldwide .
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