Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh has pulled off one of the most remarkable underdog stories in recent chess history by defeating Tan Zhongyi, the third seed and former world champion, in the semifinals of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup.

With this victory, the 18-year-old International Master (IM) not only advanced to the prestigious final but also achieved her first Grandmaster (GM) norm, a career milestone for any elite player.

ALSO READ : Magnus Carlsen storms into semifinals as World Champion Gukesh knocked out in stunning Chess Classic twist

The victory over Tan marks Divya’s third straight win against a Grandmaster, a streak that has sent shockwaves through the chess world. Analysts are already dubbing her journey to the finals as a “Cinderella run”, filled with grit, tactical brilliance, and a fearless approach that belies her years.

“It’s the biggest win of my career… I just gave it everything I had,” Divya said.

Divya’s win came after a grueling classical game where she maintained composure in a tense middlegame position. Using deep preparation and fearless creativity, she exploited inaccuracies from her opponent in the endgame to seal the victory. With this, she became the youngest Indian woman ever to reach the final of the Women’s World Cup.

Her opponent, Tan Zhongyi — the 2017 Women’s World Champion and one of China’s top players — was considered a favorite to win the entire tournament. But Divya’s sharp play disrupted Tan’s rhythm early in the match, and she never quite recovered.

Who Is Divya Deshmukh?

A native of Nagpur, India, Divya has long been viewed as one of the brightest talents in Indian chess. She has represented the country at multiple youth championships and made headlines by winning the Asian Women’s Championship at the age of 16.

Her rapid rise has been mentored closely by Indian Chess Federation coaches and supported by senior players, including Viswanathan Anand, who has praised her attacking instincts and nerves of steel.

A Spot in the Candidates Awaits

With this win, Divya not only progresses to the final but also secures a spot in the Women’s Candidates Tournament, the gateway to a shot at the Women’s World Chess Championship title.

“She’s the future of Indian women’s chess,” said Tania Sachdev, an Indian Woman Grandmaster and commentator, during the live broadcast. “Her game is maturing at lightning speed.”

Humpy Koneru Survives Thriller

In another nail-biting semi-final match, Koneru Humpy narrowly escaped elimination against Lei Tingjie, the tournament’s 2nd seed. After losing the first classical game, Humpy bounced back with a crucial win, forcing tie-breaks.

The drama intensified as both players entered blitz territory. Ultimately, Humpy edged past Lei in a razor-thin armageddon game, setting up the all-Indian final — a first in the tournament’s history.

India’s Golden Era in Women’s Chess?

With Divya Deshmukh and Humpy Koneru both entering the finals, many believe this marks the beginning of a golden chapter for Indian women in the global chess arena.

India has traditionally dominated men’s chess with names like Viswanathan Anand and rising star R Praggnanandhaa. But this new wave of fearless female competitors is rewriting the narrative.

The FIDE Women’s World Cup final, now featuring two Indians, is being hailed as a historic moment for the sport — not just for India, but for global representation in elite chess.

What’s Next?

The final between Divya and Humpy is scheduled for this weekend, with chess fans across the world eagerly anticipating a fierce yet respectful showdown. Regardless of the outcome, Divya Deshmukh’s meteoric rise and stunning performance has already etched her name in the sport’s elite echelons.

Her message to fans? “Don’t be afraid to dream big. And always keep fighting — even when the odds are against you.”

Magnus Carlsen continues to defy the limits of brilliance on the chessboard. The World No. 1 and five-time World Chess Champion once again asserted his supremacy, clinching the 2025 SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia title in Zagreb—and he didn’t even need the final round to do it.

With an extraordinary 22.5 points across rapid and blitz games, Carlsen claimed his sixth straight Rapid & Blitz victory on the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) circuit, and a jaw-dropping tenth win in just twelve GCT appearances. The victory earned him $40,000 and reaffirmed his unparalleled grip on modern chess.

What I really like about this event is the format—you have a lot of games and time to come back,” Carlsen said after his win.

Trailing behind him were Wesley So of the USA, who finished second and took home $30,000, and rising star Gukesh Dommaraju from India, who earned $25,000 for third place.

Final Standings: SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia

Saint Louis Awaits: Wildcards Revealed for GCT’s U.S. Legs

With Croatia in the books, the GCT now heads to Saint Louis, Missouri—often dubbed the “Chess Capital of America”. Two back-to-back events will close out the regular season:

• Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Aug 9–17)
• Sinquefield Cup (Aug 16–29)

Wildcard players for the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz include:

• Leinier Dominguez (USA)
• Liem Le (Vietnam)
• Sam Shankland (USA)
• Grigoriy Oparin (USA)

The field also includes elite full-tour players such as Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh Dommaraju, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

The Sinquefield Cup: Classical Firepower Returns

Held immediately after, the Sinquefield Cup brings back the classic format and offers $350,000 in prize money. The final event will determine which four players qualify for the GCT Finals in São Paulo, Brazil, this September.

The Sinquefield Cup field includes names like Praggnanandhaa, Alireza Firouzja, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and wildcard Samuel Sevian.

As we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Grand Chess Tour, we hope this continues to inspire players of all ages,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Superbet Foundation.

What’s Next: GCT Finals in Brazil

The 2025 season will conclude with the GCT Finals in São Paulo (Sept 26–Oct 4), where the top four regular-season scorers will face off for a share of the $350,000 knockout prize purse.

From Warsaw to Zagreb, and soon Saint Louis, the Grand Chess Tour continues to celebrate the very best of international chess—powered by legends, prodigies, and timeless strategy.

In one of the most dramatic moments in recent chess history, D Gukesh delivered a crushing blow to Magnus Carlsen at the ongoing Norway Chess 2025 tournament, securing his first-ever classical win over the five-time world champion — and causing a visible emotional outburst from the Norwegian icon.

The high-voltage match, held on June 2 in Stavanger, began as expected, with Carlsen applying relentless pressure and crafting a superior endgame. For most of the four-hour encounter, it looked like just another clinical victory for the World No.1. But what followed shocked even the most seasoned analysts.

In an unexpected twist, the 18-year-old Indian grandmaster capitalized on a rare endgame blunder by Carlsen and flipped the narrative in a match that had already crossed 60 moves. As Gukesh sealed the win on the 62nd move, the arena was left in stunned silence.

What happened next made headlines.

Carlsen, clearly furious with himself, banged the table, sending chess pieces scattering across the board — a rare moment of emotional release from a man known for his calm under pressure. However, in a show of sportsmanship, he quickly regained composure, shook hands with Gukesh, gave him a brief pat on the back, and exited the hall.

Gukesh, on the other hand, looked frozen in disbelief. This wasn’t just any win — it was a statement, made against the strongest classical player in the world, and on Carlsen’s home turf no less.

It doesn’t feel real I was just fighting to survive Gukesh reportedly said later, eyes still wide from the adrenaline rush.

For Indian chess fans, this victory carries immense symbolic weight. Gukesh, who earlier this year became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion, continues to prove that he is not just a future star, but the present force to reckon with.

The win not only shakes up the Norway Chess 2025 leaderboard but also reignites global interest in what many are calling the new era of chess rivalry — the Carlsen vs Gukesh saga.

Meanwhile, fans online were quick to react to the viral clip of Carlsen’s table bang. One user posted: “You know it’s serious when Carlsen loses his cool. Gukesh just announced himself to the world.”

With the tournament far from over, all eyes will now be on their next encounter — and whether Carlsen can mount a comeback of his own.