Chess isn’t just a game of brains; it’s a sport of charisma, swagger, and, lately, undeniable dominance. The European Chess Cup 2025 in Rhodes became a vibrant showcase of Indian talent, starring none other than Gukesh D, the reigning world champion, and Divya Deshmukh, the rising superstar who’s rewriting all stereotypes about women in chess.
These two prodigies didn’t just show up; they ruled, stealing the show and sweeping both individual and team gold medals, making every fan sit up and realise: Indian chess is cooler and sharper than ever before.
Gukesh D: World Champion’s Magic At The European Chess Cup 2025
Let’s start with Gukesh D. He’s got that ice-cold efficiency at the board and a cool composure even off it, the kind of combination that makes chess look just as glamorous as any other sport. Gukesh wasn’t just playing for glory; he was leading SuperChess, a team stacked with talent, to a perfect score of 14/14 in the Open section. Missed the first two rounds? Didn’t matter. When Gukesh sat down to play, he delivered a performance rating of 2927 and casually pocketed the Board 1 gold medal, leaving stars like Vincent Keymer and Anish Giri in his wake.
Now, peel back the stats and you see a guy who’s bounced back from a mixed start to 2025. From tough runs at the Tata Masters and Grand Slam events to dropping jaws by beating Magnus Carlsen twice in Norway Chess and Croatia Rapid, Gukesh D is living proof that comeback kings are the coolest kings.
Divya Deshmukh: Breaking Barriers, Owning Boards
Then there’s Divya Deshmukh. Forget every old-school stereotype about chess being a boys’ club; the women’s section crowned Divya as the queen of Board 2. Playing for Cercle d’échecs de Monte-Carlo, she clinched both team and individual gold, powered her team to a 13/14 finish, and smashed past the 2500 ELO rating barrier while at it. Six rounds, zero easy games, but Divya’s calm focus kept her consistently making the right move, the kind of quiet confidence that keeps fans coming back for more.
Divya’s win at the European Chess Cup 2025 isn’t just another trophy for the shelf; she’s now the sole Indian woman heading to the World Cup in Goa this November. Her double gold sets the narrative for a new era, and you can bet the chess world is watching with wide-eyed respect.
Indian Chess: All Eyes On Goa
With both champions turning heads in Rhodes, the drums are rolling for the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa. Twenty-four Indian stars, including Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa, and Nihal Sarin, are prepping to battle for a spot at the 2026 Candidates tournament. But Gukesh D and Divya Deshmukh? They’ve set the standard. Win on foreign turf, bounce back from setbacks, rule the boards, and rewrite the headlines every single time.
