India’s Chess Queens Are Coming for the Crown

May 13, 2025 NHaselton Chess Lectures

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Two young women, one big dream — World Champion. Meet Divya Deshmukh (19, hungry for her GM title) and Vaishali R (already a GM, and sister to prodigy Praggnanandhaa), as they fight their way through the toughest tournaments on Earth 🌍, carrying not just kings and queens on the board — but the hopes of a nation.

From sleepless hotels to standing ovations at Tata Steel, these two are reshaping what it means to be a chess star — young, brilliant, bold, and very far from home.

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