Hey chess fans, meet Divya Deshmukh—India's FIDE Women's World Cup champ who's rewriting the rules in 2025. While most top women players stick to ladies' events with just the odd men's tournament, Divya's diving headfirst into open battles against guys. Think Tata Steel Challengers, Prague, Grand Swiss, and FIDE World Cup—she's played four big ones this year!

Sure, it's led to losses—like eight out of 13 at Wijk aan Zee or early exits elsewhere. But here's the genius: World No.2 Hikaru Nakamura calls it "extremely smart." Why? You're sharpening against the absolute best, even if you're struggling. "She's getting that experience," he says, predicting it'll pay off huge long-term, maybe even challenging Chinese stars like Zhu Jiner or Ju Wenjun for the women's throne.

Her coach Abhimanyu Puranik compares her to an AI model evolving fast—openings tighter, middlegame risks smarter, endgames refined. And her mindset? Rock-solid. Losses don't faze her; she stays stable and levels up in crunch moments, like her World Cup run beating Zhu, Harika, Tan Zhongyi, and Koneru Humpy.

Even Hou Yifan, a chess legend, loves her vibe: Divya plays with pure passion, not just as a job. Unlike some Indian stars like Humpy or Harika who rarely hit men's events lately, Divya's approach sets her apart. At her young age, she's got massive growth potential—scary for the competition!

India's Gen She is rising, and Divya's gamble screams future superstar. Who's your pick for next women's world champ?