Who is Divya Deshmukh? The 18-year-old who Defeated World No. 1 Hou Yifan at World Team Blitz Championships in London

Representing India in the World Team Blitz event, Divya played a crucial role in helping her team secure a bronze medal.

Divya Deshmukh, an 18-year-old chess sensation from Nagpur, Maharashtra, has turned global attention her way after her victory in defeating legendary Chinese Grandmaster and World No. 1 Hou Yifan at the World Team Blitz Championships in London.

Representing India in the World Team Blitz event, Divya played a crucial role in helping her team secure a bronze medal.

In a thrilling semifinal clash against the WR Chess Team, she bounced back after an earlier loss to Hou Yifan in the first leg of their encounter. In the return game, with the white pieces, Divya showcased her tactical brilliance and time management key to success in blitz chess and turned the tables on the world’s top-ranked woman player.

Her strong comeback and ability to keep composure under pressure drew widespread admiration, not just from the chess community but from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded her performance on social media, calling it a testament to her grit, determination, and inspirational rise.

“Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating the World No. 1, Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future endeavours,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating the World No. 1, Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future… pic.twitter.com/mjdWO0llFT

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2025

Who is Divya Deshmukh?

Born on December 9, 2005 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, to doctors Jitendra and Namratha Deshmukh, Divya’s discovered her interest in chess at the age of 5. While accompanying her sister to badminton sessions, she found herself drawn to the chess activities taking place nearby.

She won the Under-7 National Championship in 2012.

She also won the World Youth titles in the U-10 category (Durban, 2014) and U-12 (Brazil, 2017).

In 2021, Divya Deshmukh achieved the title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM), making history as the first player from the Vidarbha region to do so and becoming the 22nd Indian woman to earn the honour. She continued her rapid ascent by attaining the prestigious International Master (IM) title in 2023, marking another significant milestone in her career.

Divya was crowned World Junior Girls U-20 Champion in 2024 with an incredible 10/11 score, confirming her dominance on the global junior circuit. That same year, she played a key role in helping India win the team gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad held in Budapest.

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