2 August 2025: Women’s chess is finally in its moment, and the most exciting impact is being felt in India. Over the past year, Indian Women chess players have been rewriting history and inspiring hopes for the new generations of young girls. This has become the talk of the town, as Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old Indian girl, has won the global chess championship. As the world reacts to recent dramatic tournaments and breaking news, it’s clear that the queens are ruling over the chessboards, and it is undergoing a revolution.
Indian Women in Chess: The Origin
The story of women’s chess in India is really about hope, hard work, and perseverance. Although India is known for its chess heroes like Viswanathan Anand, women in chess had to fight much harder to be recognised. In the 1970s, the Khadilkar sisters, Rohini, Jayshree, and Vasanti, were pioneers. Vasanti Khadilkar won the first Indian Women’s National Chess Championship in 1974. Along with her sisters, she fought for the chance for women to play in men’s tournaments, breaking important barriers that helped today’s top players succeed.
Fifty years later, Indian women are not just playing; they are winning at the highest levels.
Indian Women Chess Players
Divya Deshmukh: India’s Newest Grandmaster and World Cup Winner
The last few weeks have brought a major news story in Indian chess: Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old from Nagpur, has become the first Indian woman ever to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup. In a final where all the players were from India, she beat the famous Koneru Humpy after a very tight tiebreak. This is a big moment, showing that the torch has been passed from India’s top female player to a new rising star. Winning the World Cup also means she gets the Grandmaster (GM) title automatically. Now, Divya is India’s 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this honour.
Divya has been rising very quickly. In just the last year, she has won many medals, including two golds at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, the World Under-20 Championship, and a strong performance at the Sharjah Challengers. Her win in the World Cup came after a tough tournament where she beat some of the best players in the world, including Zhu Jiner (ranked second in the world), Harika Dronavalli (an Indian Grandmaster), and Koneru Humpy herself. After the win, Divya said in an interview that she needed time to understand what had happened. She felt it was fate that she got the Grandmaster title this way. She also said she is hopeful that this is just the beginning of a great journey.
Koneru Humpy: 2nd World Champion
Following Divya Deshmukh, one must not forget the name of Koneru Humpy. She must be acknowledged for her achievements. For almost 20 years, Koneru has led the way for Indian chess. A Grandmaster who rose to become the world’s second-best player, she has always been a top contender in big tournaments, including coming in second in the most recent World Cup at the age of 38. Her strong, strategic style and cool-headedness under pressure have made her respected worldwide. At home, she has inspired thousands of young girls to play chess. She is still India’s top-rated women’s player and stands as a role model for steady effort and determination in the game.
Harika Dronavalli: Indian Charm of World Chess Championship and Chess Olympiad
Harika Dronavalli is also another major name from India in the last decade. She obtained her Grandmaster title at only 19 years old, and she’s a strong player in the world. She has obtained many medals in the Women’s World Chess Championships and many titles in the Chess Olympiad. Harika is also known for her strong and determined play and has been a solid competitor and an inspiration for the next generation of players. She recently had a great tournament in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, making it to the quarterfinal, but lost to Divya in this round.
Vaishali Rameshbabu: Sister of the World Champion GM Praggnanandhaa
Another rising star in Indian women’s chess players is Vaishali Rameshbabu, who is just like her brother, GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and is the most prestigious chess player. She has just started her chess journey. Vaishali is among the country’s top female FIDE-rated players. She continues to perform at the highest levels nationally and internationally.
The Next Generation: Chess Revolution
These famous chess players are just the ones everyone knows about. But behind them, there’s a group of Indian girls who are also doing well. Names like Tania Sachdev, Vantika Agrawal, Padmini Rout, Bhakti Kulkarni, Rakshitta Ravi, and many others keep showing up in the top 10 rankings and playing for India in important international events.
It’s also important to know that this new group of players isn’t just playing chess; they’re really good at it. For example, Savitha Shri B has already beaten some of the top chess players in the world, and Rakshitta Ravi, who is only 19 years old, is already in the national top 10. These young players show that Indian chess has a lot of strong talent.
What’s Next?
Indian Women Chess is at an exciting time after winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup and following up by producing their fourth Grandmaster. There are several upcoming events with big importance, the Olympiad and World Championships, and India’s best players, such as Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, are all eager to take the game higher. India is still waiting for its women’s world champion in chess, and with 2025 being the target date, that dream feels closer than it ever has before. There is a chess revolution happening for Indian women, and the world is watching every step of the way.
Written By: Mathews
Audited By: Riyaa
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