Queen’s Gambit: How Divya Deshmukh Conquered The Chess World

On the humid July afternoon in Batumi, Georgia yesterday, the chessboard bore witness to a generational clash. On one side sat Koneru Humpy, India’s first female Grandmaster and a titan of the game. Across from her, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh, eyes locked, nerves taut, and history within reach.

When Humpy resigned after a blunder in the second rapid tie-break, Divya didn’t leap in celebration. She sat still, stunned, tears welling up, before walking over to embrace her mother. In that moment, India had its first Women’s World Cup champion, and its 88th Grandmaster.

Divya’s journey into the chess world was not a planned gambit. It was a serendipitous detour. As she once recounted, her sister was enrolled in badminton classes, but Divya, barely five, couldn’t reach the net. In the same building, a chess class was underway.

Her parents, Jitendra and Namratha, both doctors in Nagpur, nudged her towards the board. That quiet moment set the stage for one of the most remarkable ascents in Indian chess.

By age seven, she was a national U-7 champion. By ten, she was representing India internationally. Her schooling at Bhavans Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir in Nagpur was marked by academic excellence and tournament wins.

Media reports have it that her teachers remember her as focused, humble, and fiercely disciplined. These are, of course, qualities that we have seen her exhibit on the board.

Early mentors and the making of a prodigy

Divya’s early promise was spotted by Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan, who coached her until 2020. He first met her at the airport en route to the World U-16 Olympiad in Turkey.

The one quote from him has now become a headline on her profile. "She was incredibly talented," he said, "but more than that, she had the temperament. She could handle pressure like MS Dhoni in the final over."

The word prodigy was also quickly tagged to her. But, as sport has shown us over the years, that can sometimes be a burden. Luckily, Divya was grounded enough to handle the pressure that came from expectations.

Another key influence was GM R. B. Ramesh, who trained her during her formative years. Ramesh notes her 'ultra-aggressive' style and likens her to Alexander Alekhine, the legendary tactician.

"She didn’t have that inner chatter of self-doubt. She was confident, even at eleven," he said.

What makes her stand out isn’t just her results, it’s how she plays. There’s a fearlessness in her opening choices, a refreshing unpredictability that rattles opponents used to bookish lines.

She isn’t afraid to sacrifice material for initiative. She revels in messy middlegames. And yet, when needed, Divya can hunker down and grind a draw from a losing endgame. Her flexibility and psychological toughness have been key to her meteoric rise.

Divya's ascent is a steady climb. In 2020, she was a crucial member of the Indian team that clinched gold in the FIDE online chess Olympiad.

The very next year, she earned the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title, becoming India's 21st WGM. In 2023, the International Master (IM) title followed, cementing her status as one of India's fastest-rising chess sensations.

Her victories were not limited to age categories. At just 17 in 2023, she became the two-time National Women's Champion, and at 18, she was crowned Asia's chess queen by winning her first Women's Continental title in Kazakhstan.

Last year, she also added the World Junior Girls' Championship (U-20) to her impressive résumé, her third world title.

Divya’s rise is also a testament to the quiet revolution brewing in Nagpur. Long overshadowed by metros like Chennai and Delhi, Nagpur has steadily built a grassroots chess culture.

The Nagpur District Chess Association, founded in 1974, has nurtured generations of players. Institutions like Chanakya Chess Academy and Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir have created a pipeline of talent, and Divya’s success has now turned the city into a beacon for aspiring players.

Her win has galvanised local pride. Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called her 'the daughter of Nagpur', announcing that the state would honour her formally.

The road to the World Cup

Divya’s path to the World Cup is anything but conventional. She entered the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup as the 15th seed, without a single GM norm.

Her draw was brutal. Zhu Jiner in Round 4, Harika Dronavalli in the quarters, Tan Zhongyi in the semis, and finally Humpy in the final. She beat them all.

Her semifinal against Zhongyi, a 101-move marathon, was a masterclass in resilience. In the final, she held Humpy to two classical draws before capitalising on a blunder in the rapid tie-break.

“I need time to process it," she said afterwards. "Before this tournament, I didn’t even have one norm. And now I’m a Grandmaster."

Divya’s win earned her the GM title through an alternate route, that of winning a top-tier FIDE event. She is now India’s 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth woman to hold the title, joining the ranks of Humpy, Harika, and Vaishali Rameshbabu.

Her achievement is seismic. It breaks the mould of the slow, norm-based climb and signals a new era where Indian women are not just participating, they’re dominating.

She’s now qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, with a shot at the Women’s World Championship.

The rise of women’s chess in India

Divya’s triumph is part of a broader renaissance. India’s women won gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Hungary. Humpy reclaimed her World Rapid title. Vaishali became a GM.

The pipeline is rich, and the infrastructure is evolving. More girls are entering tournaments, more schools are offering chess programmes, and more parents are seeing the game as a viable career.

Divya, however, has been vocal about gender bias. In 2024, she called out the media for focusing on her clothes and accent rather than her games.

"I think women deserve to be respected for their game," she said. Her stance sparked conversations across the chess world and earned her admiration far beyond the 64 squares.

Divya is still evolving. She’s working on her endgames, studying sports psychology, and pursuing distance education. Her goal is to become Women’s World Champion.

GM Ramesh believes she can reach a 2650 rating, which is higher than Humpy’s peak. With age on her side and a fearless style, she’s poised to be a generational talent.

But for now, she’s taking a breath.

"I need sleep and food," she laughed after the final. The chess world, meanwhile, is wide awake, watching, learning, and cheering for the girl who has turned a missed badminton class into a world title.