Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old chess player, is making a significant impact in the sport. Her achievements include a World Cup title, Olympic gold medals, and victories against top players, solidifying her position in the chess world. Born on December 9, 2005, Deshmukh has rapidly climbed the ranks. She secured the Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, defeating formidable opponents like Zhu Jiner, Harika Dronavalli, and Tan Zhongyi, and then Koneru Humpy in a tiebreak. This victory earned her the Grandmaster title, making her the 88th Grandmaster from India and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve this. Her success also qualified her for the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, putting her in contention for the Women’s World Championship. In 2024, Deshmukh also played a crucial role in India’s gold medal win at the 45th Chess Olympiad, where she earned an individual gold medal with a performance rating of 2608. She also won the World U20 Chess Championship in 2024, becoming the fourth Indian woman to achieve this title. A notable moment came in the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Team Chess Championships where she defeated Hou Yifan, the world’s top-ranked female chess player, in a 74-move endgame, contributing to her team’s bronze medal. At the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Deshmukh drew with World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju after a 103-move game, demonstrating her ability to compete at the highest level. Her accomplishments include World Cup winner, Grandmaster, Olympiad gold medalist, and U20 World Champion. Deshmukh is considered a symbol of the growing depth of women’s chess in India, with a promising future ahead.
