Divya Deshmukh: The Young Chess Prodigy Making Waves

Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old chess player, is rapidly gaining recognition. She is challenging established players and setting new records, inspiring young Indian chess enthusiasts. Deshmukh’s resume includes a World Cup title, Olympic gold, and victories against top chess players. She won the Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, defeating Zhu Jiner, Harika Dronavalli, and Tan Zhongyi before winning against Koneru Humpy in a tiebreak. This win earned her the Grandmaster title and a spot in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026. In 2024, Deshmukh contributed to India’s gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad. She earned an individual gold medal. At the World U20 Chess Championship, she won the title, becoming the fourth Indian woman to do so. In the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Team Chess Championships, she beat Hou Yifan, the world’s top-ranked woman, which helped her team win a bronze medal. She also played a 103-move draw against World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025. Deshmukh has already achieved significant milestones, including winning the World Cup, becoming a Grandmaster, and winning an Olympiad gold medal. Her approach to the game is marked by fearlessness and a strong work ethic. She represents the future of women’s chess in India and has a promising career ahead.