Divya Deshmukh | DD News

June 3, 2026 11:06 AM

Praggnanandhaa stuns Carlsen again in Oslo; Gukesh and Divya suffer Round 8 defeats

R Praggnanandhaa continued his impressive run at Norway Chess 2026, defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen for the second time in the tournament to remain firmly in contention for the title, while world champion D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh endured disappointing losses in Round 8 on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Indian grandmaster, who had earlier beaten Carlsen with the white pieces, repeated the feat with black in a remarkable display. The victory made Praggnanandhaa only the second Indian after Visw...

August 12, 2025 11:23 AM

Divya Deshmukh routs Lei Tingjie 10-3, storms into Women’s Speed Chess quarters

India’s teenage chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh continued her impressive run, dismantling China’s Lei Tingjie 10-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s Speed Chess Championship 2025 on Monday. Divya decimated Lei with both white and black pieces. She lost only one game while ending up winning eight and drawing four to get an eight-point win over the Chinese. In the online event hosted by Chess.com, Divya, India’s 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth woman from the country to earn the...

July 29, 2025 1:46 AM

PM Modi congratulates Divya Deshmukh on winning FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh for becoming the FIDE Women’s World Chess Champion 2025, calling her victory a remarkable feat that will inspire countless youngsters across the country. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister also lauded veteran Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who finished as runner-up in the all-Indian final held in Baku. “A historic final featuring two outstanding Indian chess players! Proud of the young Divy...

July 28, 2025 5:52 PM

Divya Deshmukh scripts history to become first Indian woman to win Chess World Cup

In a historic moment for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh etched her name in the record books by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025. Facing off against veteran Koneru Humpy in an all-Indian final in Baku, Divya clinched the title 1.5–0.5 in the rapid tie-breaks, becoming the first Indian woman to win the coveted crown. The classical games played over the weekend had ended in tense draws, with both players showcasing resilience and elite-level play. In Saturday's opening game, D...