New Delhi, Aug 12 (HS) : Riding the momentum of her historic FIDE World Cup victory in Georgia, India’s rising chess star Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh delivered another statement performance on Monday, overwhelming Chinese GM Lei Tingjie 10–3 to storm into the 2025 Women’s Speed Chess Championship quarter‑finals.
The 19‑year‑old prodigy from Nagpur seized the initiative from the very first game, dictating the pace and rhythm of the online matchup with clinical precision. Lei — ranked among the world’s elite — found herself under relentless pressure as Divya combined blistering attacking play with ironclad defence to shut down any counterplay.
Awaiting her in Thursday’s last‑eight showdown is none other than Hou Yifan, the legendary Chinese four‑time world women’s champion, in what promises to be one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament.
India’s second contender, R. Vaishali, bowed out in the previous round after a narrow 6–8 defeat to American IM Alice Lee.
An Elite Online Knockout
The Women’s Speed Chess Championship features 16 players — eight direct invitees and eight qualifiers — battling across an intense online knockout format for a $75,000 prize pool, with $7,000 reserved for the champion. Each match in the initial rounds unfolds over three high‑tempo segments:
– 45 minutes of 5+1 blitz chess
– 30 minutes of 3+1 blitz chess
– 15 minutes of 1+1 bullet chess
A win earns one point, and a draw a half‑point. Time controls lengthen in the semi‑finals and final, demanding both endurance and adaptability from competitors.
Masterclass in Momentum
Divya raced to a 3.5–0.5 lead after the 5+1 blitz segment, tightening her grip with a 7.5–1.5 advantage by the end of 3+1 play. The bullet phase saw her close out proceedings 2.5–1.5, sealing an emphatic 10–3 aggregate triumph without ever allowing her opponent a path back.
Her demolition of Lei Tingjie not only underscores her growing reputation as one of the world’s most formidable speed chess players but also sets the stage for a mouth‑watering quarter‑final duel with Hou Yifan — a battle of youthful fearlessness against seasoned mastery.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
