'Thankfully, Was Never In A Situation Where...': Deshmkh Reflects On Coping With Pressure At FIDE WWC

Last Updated:August 03, 2025, 10:21 IST

The 19-year-old Deshmukh got the better of Koneru in a tie-breaker after the two settled for a couple of draws in classical format of he game.

Divya Deshmukh won the FIDE Women's World Cup (Picture credit: Andrei Anosov/FIDE)

Indian teenage GM Divya Deshmukh, who scripted history with her FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 title in Batumi, opened up on how she handled the immense pressure to get the better of senior compatriot Humpy Koneru in the final of the event to claim the top honour and everything that goes with it.

The 19-year-old Deshmukh got the better of Koneru in a tie-breaker after the two settled for a couple of draws in classical format of he game.

ALSO READ| Lionel Messi Subbed Off Early Due to Injury During Inter Miami’s Win Over Necaxa

“It was quite stressful. Quite difficult at least because also it’s such a long event. You have to keep up your stamina. You have to be resistant and you have to show up on the board every single day to give your best," the teenager began.

“Thankfully, I was never in a situation where I had to be in a must-win situation. So, I don’t know how I would have coped with that," said Divya in an interaction posted by FIDE on social media," she continued.

Deshmukh returned to her hometown, Nagpur, to a hero’s welcome with the Chess fraternity uniting to laud her incredible accomplishment as she became the first Indian woman to bag the coveted title.

“I think from an emotional perspective, maybe, but the finals was incredibly difficult," she explained.

“The pressure, the nerves the toll that the entire tournament was taking and the feeling like you’ve come so far and now you cannot go back down so I would say it was quite difficult," the teenage prodigy said.

“I think there was always some part of me that would never give up. So I always wanted to fight, but after I lost the second match I was quite disappointed or mainly because I got a good position at the opening," she added.

Deshmukh got the better of another compatriot, GM Dronavalli Harika, and Tan Zhongyi of China en route to her final as the teenager demonstrated poise and patience throughout the campaign.

“Harika was definitely quite strong, but I think because I had gone through (some tough games) already… by the time I got to Harika, I was already quite sure," she said reflecting on her quarterfinal fixture.

ALSO READ| WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 1: Seth Rollins Shocks In Return; Tiffany Stratton Maintain Perfect Record

Divya said she was taking it one game at a time and only started entertaining thoughts of winning the title after she had reached the final.

“At least, I never had the thoughts of winning the tournament until I was in the finals. I knew that of course there’s some part of you that always, you know, wants (to be) the best, but I was just trying to survive.

“Zhongyi was a very strong player. Very strong. That was a close match."

“As for Humpy, I think she’s definitely quite strong, but honestly in this tournament the nerves…you know you have to be calm throughout the entire tournament," Deshmukh recollected.

When quizzed what she was more proud of, the World Cup title or the title of GM, Deshmukh opined that it was a special feeling to achieve both feats simultaneously.

Along with the coveted trophy, Deshmukh received $50,000 in prize money. More importantly, her win granted her the title of Grandmaster, making her India’s 88th Grandmaster in chess history.

“I think Grandmaster title is something that would have eventually come definitely come. I don’t know when but it would have. So can’t choose. I think the fact that both of them happen at the same time makes it all the more special.

“I think maybe maybe it was destiny that I got my title in one shot and the fact that I did not even have even one (GM) norm before it and now I’m a Grandmaster. That’s why I think that maybe it was meant to be.".

Deshmukh also revealed the impact of her mother travelling alongside her to Georgia and the wise counsel she was extended from time to time, which ultimately all came to fruitition as an Indian struck gold at the women’s flagship event.

“She told me to have confidence in myself and to manage my time. I think motivation is not a constant factor. I think sometimes there is, sometimes there isn’t, but you just have to push through it."

“At least that’s what I’ve been doing. And, what I believe in is that all I can do is give my best and I don’t control the results. So, that’s what I’ve been focusing on," she concluded.

News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location :

First Published:

August 03, 2025, 10:21 IST

News sports 'Thankfully, Was Never In A Situation Where...': Deshmkh Reflects On Coping With Pressure At FIDE WWC

Read More