Nagpur Girl Divya Deshmukh Defeats World No.1 Hou Yifan in 74-Move Masterclass; PM Modi Applauds Her Grit

The Indian chess world witnessed a monumental feat when 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh scripted history after defeating World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the Blitz semifinals of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship 2025 in London. The Nagpur teen kept her composure and pulled off a stunning 74-move win in a tense rook vs bishop endgame.

Her victory played a crucial role in securing India’s third-place finish in the Blitz segment of the tournament, adding to their second-place finish in the Rapid format.

Reacting to her performance, Divya took to social media and wrote: “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!”

Divya’s individual Blitz record has been stellar with six wins, one draw, and just a single loss. The magnitude of her feat was acknowledged by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who shared his admiration via social media:”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,” wrote PM Modi.