Divya Deshmukh Stuns World No. 1 Hou Yifan at World Blitz Team Championship; PM Modi Applauds Her Grit

Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, just 19 years old, created a buzz on the international stage by defeating the world number one, Hou Yifan of China, at the World Team Blitz Chess Championship held in London. This remarkable victory came during the second leg of the semifinal round and was a key highlight of the tournament, helping India secure a strong finish with three medals.

 

Divya, ranked world junior number one, showed tremendous composure and strategic brilliance in a tense 74-move encounter, especially in the rook versus bishop endgame. She had faced Hou Yifan earlier in the tournament but came back stronger in this crucial match, leveraging her opening advantage and faster play.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally congratulated Divya on social media, praising her grit and determination. He said her success is an inspiration to many young chess players across India and wished her the best for future endeavors. Divya expressed her gratitude for the support from her teammates and the encouragement from the Prime Minister, calling it a great honor and motivation to continue winning medals for India.

 

This victory adds to India’s growing prominence in international chess, joining recent achievements by other Indian grandmasters like D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa. Divya’s win not only highlights her rising stature but also shines a spotlight on the increasing strength and depth of Indian chess on the world stage.

 

Sources: Times of India, ANI, Times Now, PM India