FIDE names India’s Divya Deshmukh best female chess player
Indian international master Divya Deshmukh has won the Best Female Player trophy at the 2026 FIDE Excellence Awards, presented during the closing ceremony of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, the International Chess Federation announced.
The 20-year-old secured the individual accolade following an exceptional campaign that cemented her reputation among the game’s brightest young talents. Deshmukh delivered a string of authoritative performances across the 11-round tournament, demonstrating sharp opening preparation and composed technical execution in complex endgames.
Her aggressive play on India’s top boards produced vital victories against several experienced grandmasters, yielding an individual performance rating that ranked among the event’s highest.
🏆 FIDE Excellence Awards 2026
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 27, 2026
♟️ Best Chess Player (Male): Javokhir Sindarov 🇺🇿
♟️ Best Chess Player (Female): Divya Deshmukh 🇮🇳
The honours were presented at the closing ceremony of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. 👏#ChessOlympiad #FIDEExcellenceAwards pic.twitter.com/fQqdFE3MUy
The recognition marks another major milestone in Deshmukh’s career, following her breakthrough title at the World Junior Girls Championship. Chess analysts widely praised her resilience under severe time pressure, where she repeatedly outcalculated seasoned competitors in double-edged middlegame positions.
Her contribution kept India in contention throughout the event, reinforcing her emergence as a leading figure in women’s chess worldwide.
Uzbekistan and China claim Olympiad gold
The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of the Olympiad in Samarkand, where host nation Uzbekistan captured the gold medal in the Open section and China secured the title in the Women’s division.
Uzbekistan produced a remarkable team effort to withstand pressure from traditional superpowers across the 11-round schedule, clinching the championship on home soil. China displayed formidable consistency throughout the women’s event, maintaining board discipline in high-stakes matches to pull clear of the chasing pack and take the top step of the podium.
In the individual honours, Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov collected the Best Male Player trophy alongside Deshmukh after anchoring Uzbekistan’s run to team gold. The 20-year-old home talent delivered decisive victories on the upper boards in pivotal match-ups.
