In 2025, Indian chess witnessed a blend of historic achievements and fluctuating fortunes for its top players. While Divya Deshmukh scripted a remarkable chapter by winning the Women's World Cup, D. Gukesh, despite holding the World Champion title, experienced a dip in form, and R. Praggnanandhaa secured his place in the Candidates Tournament.
Divya Deshmukh's Historic Triumph
Divya Deshmukh, the 19-year-old International Master from Nagpur, Maharashtra, etched her name in chess history by winning the Women's World Cup. She defeated Grandmaster Humpy Koneru in the tiebreaks to become only the third-ever winner of this prestigious title, following in the footsteps of Alexandra Kosteniuk (2021) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (2023).
Deshmukh displayed resilience and composure in the rapid tiebreak games. After a draw in the first game, she demonstrated precision in the second, equalizing comfortably as Black and then seizing control as Humpy faltered under time pressure. With this win, Deshmukh secured the USD 50,000 first prize and automatically earned the Grandmaster (GM) title. She became one of the few players in history to achieve it by winning a major FIDE event rather than through the conventional norm system. Deshmukh also qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, along with Koneru and former Women's World Champion Tan Zhongyi. In addition to winning the World Cup, Deshmukh's performance in open tournaments against male competitors throughout 2025 is expected to pay off in the long run.
D. Gukesh's Form Dips
Despite winning the World Chess Championship in 2024, D. Gukesh experienced fluctuating form in 2025. He finished third at Norway Chess 2025, securing a notable victory against World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura on his 19th birthday. He tied for first place with R. Praggnanandhaa at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 but lost in the blitz tiebreaker. At the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Gukesh suffered consecutive defeats. However, he also shared the lead at the FIDE World Rapid Championship after the first day.
R. Praggnanandhaa Reaches Candidates
R. Praggnanandhaa secured his spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament by winning the FIDE Circuit 2025. He had taken the lead in the FIDE Circuit race in May and maintained it throughout the season. His qualification was confirmed after a late decision to participate in the London Chess Classic Open.
Throughout 2025, Praggnanandhaa demonstrated strong performance, winning the Tata Steel Chess Masters, the SuperBet Classic Romania, the UzChess Cup Masters, and the London Chess Classic Open. He also finished second in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial and the Sinquefield Cup. Magnus Carlsen believes that Praggnanandhaa is the third most likely candidate to win the Candidates Tournament next year.
Other Notable Events
Panneerselvam Iniyan won the 2025 Indian Chess Championship, securing his first national title. Javokhir Sindarov won the Chess World Cup 2025, which was held in Goa, India. India's chess calendar in 2025 was filled with opportunities for players of all levels.
2025 has solidified India's position as a global chess superpower. With young talents like Divya Deshmukh and R. Praggnanandhaa rising to prominence and D. Gukesh already holding the World Champion title, the future of Indian chess looks bright.
