When 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stunned veteran Koneru Humpy, a player twice her age, to win the Women’s World Cup in Georgia, it was a classic David-versus-Goliath moment that was famously dubbed a clash of generations. While the victory celebrated the exceptional rise of a new Indian talent, the underlying story was also Humpy’s: a bona fide master of shorter formats had rediscovered her mojo even in the Classical variation with a solid run all the way to the finals.
That was in the longest form of chess. Fast forward to the World Rapid Championship 2025 in Doha, where Humpy entered as the reigning champion. She stood at a special position where, with a successful title defence, she could join China’s Ju Wenjun, the reigning World Classical Champion, as the only player to defend a Rapid crown, while also surpassing Ju to become the most decorated Rapid champion in history and overall the oldest woman to win this crown.
Humpy enjoyed a stellar run in Doha, right up until the final round. She was part of a three-way lead in a field of 141 players and was set to face her compatriot, 18-year-old Savitha Shri B in the last match.
Soon after the round began, everything seemed to align perfectly for Humpy. Her two closest rivals, Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina, drew their games, meaning Humpy knew exactly what was required. A win against Savitha would secure the championship.
Against Savitha, Humpy reached an ideal position to convert for victory: a bishop endgame with an extra queenside pawn ready for promotion. She was practically winning and it seemed only a matter of time before the defending champion would be crowned once more.
Then came a questionable bishop move from Humpy, allowing Savitha to claw her way back and defend into a draw. It was heartbreak for Humpy, who had let a direct chance slip away. Yet she still finished tied for first with Zhu and Goryachkina and began mentally preparing for the playoffs that would decide the champion.
Here, Humpy faced another blow, a bigger heartbreak this time from a rather questionable FIDE tiebreak regulation. The rules allowed only two players tied at the top to compete for the title, not three. Interestingly, had Humpy been in the same situation in the Open section, she would have been permitted to contest the playoffs, as those rules allow all players tied for first to fight for the championship.
Humpy had to settle for a bronze medal.
Nevertheless, a two-time World Rapid Champion, two-time bronze medallist in the same format and a silver in World Blitzs, the 38-year-old is clearly one of the best in the world in shorter formats.
It is her extraordinary longevity that makes Humpy so special. She has been at the helm of Indian women’s chess for over two decades. In 2002, at just 15 years old, Humpy became the first Indian woman to earn the Grandmaster title and the youngest female at the time.
Her achievements extend far beyond personal accolades. Ask Abhijeet Kunte and RB Ramesh, two credible voices in the Indian chess circuit, and they explain the value of someone like Humpy and her achievements.
“Chess in India has been dominated by Humpy for nearly 20–25 years,” Kunte had told The Indian Express. “She became a World Rapid Champion in 2024, adding a second rapid world title to her name.”
Ramesh acknowledges that India’s women’s chess currently lacks the depth seen on the men’s side but believes Humpy’s career is a powerful catalyst for change.
“On the men’s side, we have players like Praggnanandhaa, Arjun (Erigaisi), Gukesh (Dommaraju), Nihal (Sarin), and Rounak (Sadhwani) just in India, I can name five or six players who are among the world’s top 20. That’s not the case in women’s chess. We need more young girls to take up the game seriously and pursue it professionally. Fortunately, this is already starting to happen.”
“We do have some promising young girls, but it will take a few more years. I believe that in the near future, seeing players like Humpy… who is still performing exceptionally well at 38… will help,” Ramesh had previously said.
She is not a globe-trotter, nor does she wish to be. Humpy cherishes a close-knit family life, finding deep joy in spending time with her daughter. Her ability to tune out distractions, even stepping back from tournaments when needed is another trait that sets her apart. She famously chose not to compete at the 2024 Budapest Olympiad, where the Indian women’s team went on to secure a historic first gold.
Yet when she does play, the world takes notice.