Timeline India

Tag: Chess

  • Vaishali Rameshbabu Makes Chess History: Back-to-Back Champion at FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025

    Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 16, 2025 – Indian Grandmaster R. Vaishali Rameshbabu has cemented her legacy by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025, becoming the first player—male or female—to claim the prestigious title consecutively. Securing 8 out of 11 points, Vaishali clinched victory with a hard-fought draw against former Women’s World Champion GM Tan Zhongyi of China in the final round, edging out Russia’s GM Kateryna Lagno on tiebreaks. The triumph earns her a spot in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, positioning her as a frontrunner to challenge for the world title.

    The 11-round Swiss-system tournament, held from September 5 to 15 in Samarkand, featured 103 of the world’s top female chess players vying for supremacy and qualification. As the defending champion from the 2023 Riga edition, Vaishali faced intense pressure but started strongly with three consecutive wins. A mid-tournament stumble, including a Round 8 loss to Kazakhstan’s GM Bibisara Assaubayeva, briefly jeopardled doubts. However, the 24-year-old from Chennai showcased resilience, defeating Ukraine’s GM Mariya Muzychuk in Round 10 to regain joint lead.

    In the crucial final round, Vaishali, playing Black, employed a Sicilian Defense to hold Tan Zhongyi to a 42-move draw. Lagno’s simultaneous draw against Azerbaijan’s GM Ulviyya Fataliyeva left both players at 8 points, but Vaishali’s better tiebreak—calculated by the average rating of opponents, excluding the lowest-rated—secured her the title. Assaubayeva claimed third place after drawing her final game.

    “This win means everything,” Vaishali said at the closing ceremony. “After a tough phase in Chennai with seven straight losses, I nearly withdrew. My brother Praggnanandhaa and family kept me going. With three Indian women—me, Divya Deshmukh, and Koneru Humpy—in the Candidates, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for Indian chess.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vaishali on X, stating, “Her passion and dedication are exemplary. Best wishes for her future endeavours.” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich presented her with the winner’s trophy, with her brother Praggnanandhaa, a participant in the open section, by her side.

    Vaishali’s qualification strengthens an already formidable Women’s Candidates lineup, alongside Deshmukh and Humpy, following their all-Indian Women’s World Cup final in July. As India’s chess prowess surges, Vaishali’s back-to-back triumphs signal the rise of Indian women in the global arena.

  • Divya Deshmukh Makes History as First Indian Woman to Win Chess World Cup

    Baku, July 28, 2025: In a landmark achievement for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, defeating compatriot Koneru Humpy in an all-Indian final. The Nagpur-born prodigy clinched the title with a 1.5–0.5 victory in the rapid tie-breaks, capping a stunning performance in Baku.

    The classical games over the weekend ended in gripping draws, with both players displaying top-tier skill. In Saturday’s opener, Divya, playing white, gained an edge but allowed Humpy to level the score late. Sunday’s second game saw Divya navigate a self-inflicted scare, as she noted, “I wandered into trouble for no apparent reason,” before securing a draw.

    The rapid tie-breaks proved decisive. After a drawn first game, Humpy, a two-time World Rapid Champion and world No. 5 in classical chess, faltered under time pressure in the second, handing Divya the opportunity to seal the victory with precise play. The win not only crowned Divya the 2025 Women’s World Cup champion but also marked her as India’s 88th Grandmaster and the fourth Indian woman to achieve the title.

    “It was fate,” Divya said, visibly moved. “I came here hoping for a Grandmaster norm, and now I’m a Grandmaster and the champion.”

    Divya’s triumph defied expectations. Ranked No. 18 in classical, No. 22 in rapid, and No. 18 in blitz on the FIDE women’s list, she was the underdog against Humpy, a seasoned veteran. This victory adds to Divya’s meteoric rise, following her 2024 World Junior Championship win and individual gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she helped India secure team gold.

    Divya’s historic feat cements her as a rising star and a beacon for Indian chess on the global stage.

  • Historic All-Indian Final at FIDE Women’s World Cup: Humpy vs. Deshmukh

    Baku, Azerbaijan, July 25, 2025: Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has become the first Indian to reach the FIDE Women’s World Cup final, setting the stage for a historic all-Indian showdown against 19-year-old prodigy Divya Deshmukh. This milestone ensures the prestigious World Cup trophy will come to India for the first time since the tournament began.

    Humpy secured her final berth with a dramatic 5-3 tie-break victory over China’s Lei Tingjie, overcoming a deficit in rapid tie-breaks with a commanding blitz performance. Her resilience earned praise from chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who lauded her “exemplary spirit.” Meanwhile, Deshmukh, in a sensational run, defeated top players including China’s Zhu Jiner, India’s Harika Dronavalli, and former World Champion Tan Zhongyi in the semifinals, earning her first Grandmaster norm.

    Both players have also qualified for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, reinforcing India’s growing dominance in women’s chess.

    A Generational Showdown

    The final pits Humpy, a veteran and reigning World Rapid Champion, against Deshmukh, a rising star whose bold and dynamic style has captivated the chess world. Anand described Deshmukh as “a player with immense potential,” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised her “grit and determination,” calling her an inspiration for young players.

    Divya Deshmukh: A Rising Star

    Born in 2005 in Nagpur to doctors Namrata and Jitendra Deshmukh, Divya began playing chess at age 5. Her accolades include under-10 and under-12 world titles, the 2021 Woman Grandmaster title, and the 2022 Indian national championship. She also claimed Asian and U-20 world titles and contributed to India’s Olympiad gold medals in 2020, 2024, and 2025. This year, she stunned World No. 1 Hou Yifan at the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships and defeated three top-10 women at the World Cup, showcasing tactical brilliance and composure.

    India’s Chess Renaissance

    This all-Indian final underscores India’s emergence as a chess powerhouse, with consistent Olympiad medals and a growing roster of female stars like Vaishali Rameshbabu and Gukesh D. Support from institutions like GM R B Ramesh’s Chess Gurukul and Anand’s academy has fueled this transformation, creating a robust pipeline of talent challenging global norms.

    A Moment of National Pride

    The Humpy-Deshmukh final marks a transformative moment for Indian chess, symbolizing courage, discipline, and inclusivity. Their achievements inspire young players, particularly girls, and highlight the power of opportunity and collective pride in driving national progress.

  • Koneru Humpy Makes History, Reaches FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup Semifinals

    Bengaluru, July 21, 2025: Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semi-finals of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. On Sunday, she showcased a brilliant counterattacking game to hold China’s International Master Yuxin Song to a draw, securing her spot in the last four after a closely fought second game. Having won the first game with white pieces, Humpy needed only a draw to advance, a feat she achieved with skill and determination.

    With a guaranteed fourth place, Humpy now has two opportunities to finish in the top three, which would earn her a spot in the next Women’s Candidates’ tournament. The top three qualifiers from this event will advance to that prestigious competition.

    In an all-Indian clash, Grandmaster D Harika and IM Divya Deshmukh ended their quarterfinal match in a draw, setting the stage for a tie-break showdown scheduled for Monday. Meanwhile, Grandmaster R Vaishali faced disappointment, losing to China’s former world women’s champion Zhongyi Tan despite a promising position. Vaishali, who had drawn the first game, couldn’t overcome Tan’s strategic edge.

    China’s top seed Tingjie Lei also advanced to the semifinals, defeating Georgia’s Nana Dzagnidze in a 2-0 sweep. Yuxin Song, needing a win to stay in contention against Humpy, opted for the popular Jobava’s London opening. Humpy quickly equalized but sacrificed two pawns to create opportunities. She then exploited Song’s weakened pawn structure, recovering her pawns and steering the game to a balanced rook-and-pawns endgame. Song fought for 53 moves before agreeing to a draw.

    Vaishali pushed for an advantage in the middlegame but fell to an unforced error, allowing Tan to take control. Despite some computer-suggested chances, Vaishali struggled to find the right moves. Harika played cautiously with white against Deshmukh, leading to another drawn rook-and-pawns endgame, making their match the only one heading to tie-breaks—ensuring two Indians in the semifinals.

    Quarterfinal Results: Koneru Humpy (Ind) beat Yuxin Song (Chn) 1.5-0.5; Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) lost to Tingjie Lei (Chn) 0-2; R Vaishali (Ind) lost to Tan Zhongyi (Chn) 0.5-1.5; Divya Deshmukh (Ind) drew with D Harika (Ind) 1-1 (tiebreaker pending).