New Delhi, August 15(HS): Fresh off her historic FIDE World Cup triumph, India’s young Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh faced a heart-wrenching exit in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Speed Chess Championship 2025 on Thursday. The 19-year-old battled fiercely but was edged out 10.5-9.5 by the world number one and three-time world champion, Hou Yifan of China.

Deshmukh had showcased her exceptional talent earlier by defeating China’s Lei Tingjie 10-3 in the opening round, securing a spot in the last eight. However, her campaign came to a dramatic close against Hou Yifan, who proved relentless in the high-stakes clash.

The match unfolded across three intense segments. Deshmukh took an early lead in the first with a narrow 3-2 advantage (5 minutes + 1 second increment per move). Yet, Hou surged ahead dominating the second segment 4-1 (3 minutes + 1 second increment). Displaying remarkable resilience, Divya mounted a spirited comeback in the final segment, winning 3.5-1.5 (1 minute + 1 second increment), leveling the contest at 7.5-7.5.

With both players deadlocked, the battle moved to the tiebreak stage—a four-game blitz (1+1 format) that ended without a winner. Ultimately, the tension culminated in the Armageddon game, where Hou Yifan narrowly clinched victory, securing her place in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, another Indian contender R. Vaishali bowed out early after a hard-fought 6-8 loss to American IM Alice Lee in the opening round.

Divya’s gritty performance underlines her soaring potential on the global stage as she continues to challenge the world’s elite in rapid and blitz chess. The quarterfinal loss, while a setback, marks another milestone in a young career destined for greatness.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar