Nineteen-year-old Divya Deshmukh defeated veteran Koneru Humpy in the second rapid tie-breaker game on Monday in Batumi, Georgia, to clinch the title.
After two days of draws in classical games, the all-Indian final was decided by rapid tie-breaks.
Tears of joy flowed as Divya celebrated her historic win, surrounded by family. Her triumph also grants her the prestigious Grandmaster title, according to NDTV Sports.
Former champion Humpy made a crucial mistake on the 54th move, allowing Divya to gain a winning advantage, according to chess legend Viswanathan Anand.
Anand pointed out a “terrible blunder” by Divya earlier in the game but acknowledged her composure in the endgame, where she maintained pressure and capitalized on Humpy’s errors.
