For The First Time In Her Career! Divya Deshmukh Breaks Into Top-Ten After Third Place Finish At PICF

Last Updated:March 09, 2026, 09:00 IST

With her showing in the Capital City of the Czech Republic, Deshmukh took her live rating score to her best ever 2509.3 to climb to the tenth spot in the standings.

Indian GM Divya Deshmukh entered the top-10 of the women’s live rankings on Sunday following her third-place finish at the recently concluded Prague International Chess Festival.

With her showing in the Capital City of the Czech Republic, Deshmukh took her live rating score to her best ever 2509.3 to climb to the tenth spot in the standings.

Hou Yifan of China tops the table with 2596 points to her name, followed by compatriot Lei Tingjie with 2566 points. China completes the top-three in the world of women’s chess with Ju Wenjun’s 2559 rating.

China’s Zhu Jiner comes in at fourth with 2554.5 points, followed by veteran Indian Koneru Humpy with 2535 points. China’s Tan Zhongyi 2535 stands sixth, ahead of Aleksandra Goryachkina with 2534. Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk ranks eighth with 2522.

Kazak Bibisara Assaubayeva, with 2516 points to her name, ranks in ninth followed by Deshmukh.

Deshmukh finished behind home hope Finek Vanclav, who topped the Challengers event at the PICF with 6.5 points, and Daniel Yuffa of Spain, who came in second, to complete the top-3 at the event in Prague.

Deshmukh will be part of eight quality players clashing against one-another in a double round robin format at the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026, for a shot at the Women’s World Championship clash.

Koneru, R Vaishali, Jiner, Goryachkina, Zhongyi, Assaubayeva and Kateryna Lagno will push Deshmukh to the limit with a berth in the championship encounter against against holder Wenjun.

Deshmukh, the 20-year-old Indian sensation, pipped compatriot and senior Koneru to the title at the FIDE Women’s World Cup event in Batumi, and will look to replicate her showings in Cyprus.

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