In a moment of pride for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh scripted history by defeating World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the second leg of the Blitz semifinals at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship 2025 held in London.
A Strategic Masterclass
In a nail-biting 74-move endgame, the Nagpur teenager held her nerve in a tough rook vs bishop position, pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Divya’s win proved crucial in helping India secure third place in the Blitz format, following a second-place finish in the Rapid segment.
PM Modi Congratulates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Divya Deshmukh in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“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.”
— @narendramodi
A Stellar Record
Divya’s performance in the Blitz segment was exceptional, with:
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✅ 6 wins
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🤝 1 draw
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❌ 1 loss
She shared her joy on social media:
“Finally, what seemed like an eternity is over—World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships! The team finished second in rapid and third in blitz. Had an amazing experience with the team!”
A Voice Against Gender Bias in Chess
Beyond the board, Divya has also made headlines for speaking out on gender inequality and sexism in the chess world.
In an earlier Instagram post, she reflected:
“I got told… how women in chess are often just taken for granted by spectators… the audience was not even bothered with the game but instead focused on every single possible thing in the world: my clothes, hair, accent…”
She further added:
“It is the sad truth that when women play chess, people often overlook their actual strength. In my interviews, everything was discussed except my games. That was disappointing.”
“I feel women are underappreciated, and irrelevant things are focused on, while male players are judged far less. I think women should start getting equal respect.”
Divya Deshmukh’s bold stance on equality and her victory over the world’s top-ranked woman player cements her place not just as a chess champion but as a changemaker and role model for young women in sport.
( with times now inputs )
