Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 2: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday honoured chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh with a Rs 3 crore cash reward at the 'Nagari Sanman Sohala' ceremony in Nagpur, celebrating her trailblazing achievement as the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Shivajirao Kokate also attended the event. Addressing the gathering, Divya, 19, expressed heartfelt gratitude to CM Fadnavis and the people of Nagpur for recognising her achievement.

Last week, Divya made history in Batumi by defeating Grandmaster Koneru Humpy 1.5–0.5 in the tiebreaks of the final to become the youngest champion in the event’s history. With this victory, she also secured a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament and was awarded the prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title — becoming India’s 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman to do so.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had also felicitated both Divya and Koneru Humpy on Friday in New Delhi, with Humpy attending the ceremony virtually.

Reflecting on her tournament journey, Divya described the World Cup as a rigorous test of resilience, both physically and emotionally. “It was such a long event; it tested my stamina and ability to handle nerves. Fighting until the end made all the difference,” she told reporters.

Held from July 5–28, the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 witnessed a historic all-Indian final for the first time, between the rising star Divya Deshmukh and veteran GM Koneru Humpy — a testament to India’s growing dominance in women’s chess.