Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday honoured newly-crowned FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh with a public felicitation ceremony in Nagpur, awarding her a cash prize of Rs 3 crore (£280,000) for her remarkable achievement.

Deshmukh, 19, became the youngest player to win the Women’s World Cup title, clinching victory in a nail-biting tie-breaker against fellow Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy on 28 July in Batumi, Georgia. The triumph not only secured her the prestigious World Cup crown but also earned her the title of Grandmaster. Addressing the gathering, Mr Fadnavis expressed his pride, saying, “As a citizen of India, as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and as a son of Nagpur, I am immensely proud that a girl from our city has made the country shine on the global stage.”

He added that the felicitation was aimed at inspiring young children across India to pursue excellence in sports. Visibly moved, Deshmukh thanked the Chief Minister, the Maharashtra government, and the Maharashtra Chess Association for their continued support. “This is a very special moment for me. I’m so happy I could, in some small way, become a part of children’s motivation and inspiration,” she said. Sport Minister Manikrao Kokate, also present at the event, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure and nurturing talent across Maharashtra. Deshmukh, a native of Nagpur, has been hailed across the country for her resilience and composure during the tournament, especially in the high-pressure finale against the seasoned Koneru.

Her victory marks a significant milestone for Indian chess, further underlining the nation’s growing prominence on the international chess stage.