Life At The Chess Board A Lot Easier Since GM Nod, Says India’s Divya Deshmukh

Indian GM Divya Deshmukh (X)

Pressure? What pressure? Well, just less pressure perhaps, for Indian’s latest GM Divya Deshmukh.

The 19-year-old from Nagpur, who sealed her long-awaited GM title with a standout performance at the FIDE Women’s World Cup, admits that life at the board feels a little more relaxed since then.

“It’s not that my approach has changed. There’s just less stress, perhaps,” Divya joked, reflecting on how her internal expectations have calmed after the landmark achievement.

Her schedule though shows no signs of slowing. On Monday, she was confirmed as a wild-card entrant for the upcoming FIDE World Cup, which runs in Goa from October 30 to November 27. The knockout event gathers 206 of the world’s top players and offers three coveted spots at the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to a world title shot.

Though already qualified for the Candidates, Divya sees the World Cup as another chance to test herself. And being seeded near the bottom only helps, she insists.

“When you’re the last seed in a tournament, it’s pretty easy not to expect anything from yourself. So there’s no pressure—or rather, there’s less pressure,” she said with a smile.

Divya joins a strong Indian contingent of 20 players, led by reigning world champion D Gukesh. Also in the field are Abhimanyu Mishra, the youngest GM in history, and fellow American Andy Woodward, fresh off an impressive top-10 finish at the Grand Swiss. Rising Russian star Volodar Murzin, the 19-year-old World Rapid Champion chasing a 2700 ELO rating, and Austria’s experienced Kirill Alekseenko, a 2020/21 Candidates participant, also feature.

Divya may joke about feeling “less pressure,” but with India’s newest Grandmaster on the rise, expectations are quietly building.