Divya beats Humpy, takes World Cup route to GM title: 'It was fate'

A country that birthed some of the earliest pioneers of women's chess, India has discovered its own world-beater: Divya Deshmukh, aged just 19, became the FIDE Women's World Cup champion by defeating the veteran Koneru Humpy, 38, in the final via the tiebreakers on Monday.

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IN GEORGIA,

Divya winning the Women's World Cup also makes her eligible to be India's fourth woman to become a grandmaster, which is significant because before the event started, she had none of the three norms required for it.

But in one fell swoop, thanks to a regulation in the FIDE rules, Divya has now bypassed the criterion to earn three norms and is now a grandmaster too. India's 88th. By reaching the final, along with Humpy, Divya ensured that at least two Indians will play the Candidates tournament next year, where eight players fight it out to earn the right to play in the women's World Championship against current world champion Ju Wenjun.

"I think it was fate, me getting the grandmaster title this way," an emotional Divya said after her win. "Before the tournament, I didn't even have one norm to be GM. I was thinking that I could maybe earn a grandmaster norm here. And in the end, I became a grandmaster."

Since Humpy became a grandmaster, just two women from India have followed suit. Divya now joins that list.

"This title means a lot. But there's a lot more to achieve. I'm hoping this is just the start," Divya said.