Who is Divya Deshmukh? The ‘Teen Prodigy’ who held World Champion D Gukesh in a 103-move epic at FIDE Grand Swiss News24 –
In a sport long dominated by established veterans and international icons, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh is emerging as a bold, refreshing force – challenging giants, rewriting records, and inspiring a generation of Indian chess hopefuls. With a resume that already includes a World Cup title, Olympiad double gold, and victories over some of the world’s best, the Nagpur-born prodigy is no longer just a “future star” – she’s firmly in the spotlight now.
A Grandmaster Born for the Big Stage
Born on December 9, 2005, Divya Deshmukh’s meteoric rise in the chess world has reached a new high in 2025. She recently made history by winning the Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, defeating a string of top-seeded opponents, including Zhu Jiner, Harika Dronavalli, and Tan Zhongyi, before edging out the legendary Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tiebreak final.
This monumental win not only crowned her the World Cup Champion but also earned her the Grandmaster title – a rare achievement, as the World Cup champion is granted the title directly, bypassing the traditional requirement of earning three GM norms. With this, Divya became India’s 88th Grandmaster, and only the fourth Indian woman to ever achieve the title.
And she’s not done yet – this victory also booked her ticket to the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, placing her in contention for the ultimate prize: the Women’s World Championship title.
Olympiad Heroics: Double Gold in 2024
Divya’s domination isn’t limited to individual events. In 2024, she played a key role in India’s gold medal victory at the 45th Chess Olympiad, scoring a sensational 9.5/11 on Board 3. Her performance rating of 2608 was the highest on her board, earning her an individual gold medal as well.
At just 18, she was a cornerstone of India’s team – proving that her nerves, like her moves, are made of steel.
From Youth Champion to U20 World Champion
Her 2024 was a breakout year in more ways than one. She claimed the World U20 Chess Championship, becoming only the fourth Indian woman to do so, joining the ranks of Humpy Koneru, Harika Dronavalli, and Soumya Swaminathan.
With pressure mounting and needing a win in the final round, Divya produced a five-hour marathon victory over Bulgaria’s Beloslava Krasteva to clinch the title with 10 points – a testament to her stamina, strategy, and composure.
Big Wins, Big Names
One of Divya’s most talked-about moments came in 2025 during the World Rapid and Blitz Team Chess Championships in London. Representing Hexamind Chess Club, she produced a career-defining win over none other than Hou Yifan, the world no. 1 in women’s chess, in a dramatic 74-move endgame. It was her first victory over the Chinese legend and one of six blitz wins that powered her team to a bronze medal. They also bagged silver in the rapid section, thanks in part to her consistent scoring and cool under pressure.
Holding Gukesh in a 103-Move Classic
If any doubts remained about Divya’s readiness to compete at the highest level-even in open events – they were erased at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand. Facing the reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Divya played Black and showed remarkable depth and control, neutralizing Gukesh’s Rossolimo Attack over 103 intense moves in a six-hour battle.
🇮🇳 What a battle! 🔥
After 103 moves, Divya Deshmukh held the World Champion Gukesh D to a draw in a rook-and-knight vs rook endgame.
🇮🇳 Gukesh D ½ – ½ Divya Deshmukh 🇮🇳 | Round 8 of the #FIDEGrandSwiss pic.twitter.com/cXVlrbWb0J
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 12, 2025
Not only did she hold her own, but she also ended the round ahead of Gukesh in the standings, having already beaten two other Grandmasters in the Open section.
A Star Still on the Rise
At just 19, Divya Deshmukh already holds accolades that many players spend a lifetime chasing: World Cup winner, Grandmaster, Olympiad gold medallist, and U20 World Champion. But what sets her apart isn’t just her medal tally – it’s her fearless style, relentless work ethic, and unshakable belief that she belongs among the best.
She’s not just playing to win titles – she’s playing to change the game.
As India continues to make waves in the chess world, from Gukesh becoming World Champion to the rapid rise of young talents, Divya Deshmukh stands as a symbol of the country’s growing depth in women’s chess. With her best years still ahead of her, there’s no telling how far she’ll go but one thing’s for sure: she’s already a name the world won’t forget.