Indian Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh has entered the top 10 of the live women’s classical chess rankings for the first time, following her strong performance at the Prague Chess Festival Challengers 2026. This milestone builds on her 2025 triumphs, including the FIDE Women’s World Cup win and Grandmaster title.
Building on her remarkable 2025 season—where she won the FIDE Women’s World Cup, earned the Grandmaster title as the fourth Indian woman to do so, and excelled at the Chess Olympiad—Divya Deshmukh has now broken into the top 10 of the live women’s classical chess rankings.
Her impressive results at the Prague Chess Festival Challengers 2026 propelled her to this career-high position, as reported by IndiaSportsHub. The event showcased emerging talents, with Deshmukh's performance standing out and securing her place among the elite.
This achievement highlights her consistent progress and dedication, adding momentum to Indian chess on the global stage ahead of events like her upcoming debut at Norway Chess Women 2026.