Thiruvananthapuram’s rising chess sensation Divi Bijesh has once again etched her name into the annals of Indian chess history by claiming her second world title of 2025. The 10-year-old prodigy from Kerala triumphed at the FIDE World Cadets Cup (Under-10 Girls) held in Batumi, Georgia, winning the final in style with a commanding 2-0 scoreline against China’s Zhihan Chen.This latest achievement builds on her earlier success in April, when she took home the gold medal in the rapid section at the FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships in Greece. That event also saw her win a silver in blitz, underlining her versatility and dominance across multiple formats of the game. The Batumi win, however, adds a classical format world title to her growing list of international accolades, firmly establishing her as one of the brightest young chess stars in the world.Divi’s performance throughout the tournament was consistent and assured. Competing in Group B of the event, she topped her pool with ease, while her final opponent, Zhihan Chen, emerged as the Group A leader. In the final showdown, Divi displayed remarkable composure and tactical brilliance to win both games and seal the championship.Her journey in 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary. In January, Divi was awarded the prestigious Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title by FIDE, making her the youngest girl from Kerala to receive this honour. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, and her latest world title cements her status as a global force in age-group chess.Coached by Sreejith G. S. at the Master Chess Academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Divi has shown a rare combination of calmness under pressure and fierce competitiveness. Her ability to maintain focus in critical situations and her deep understanding of the game have been praised by mentors and peers alike.Divi’s success is also a result of strong family support. Her father, Bijesh, left his IT career to guide and accompany her on the challenging path of professional chess. Introduced to the game by her elder brother during the pandemic, Divi took to chess naturally and quickly began to shine at local and national levels. In just three years, she has won over 60 trophies, many of them at prestigious national and international tournaments.Off the board, Divi is a Class 4 student at Alan Feldman Public School. Balancing school and international chess commitments isn’t easy, but she handles it with discipline and determination. Despite her young age, she is known for her humility and quiet confidence.Divi’s triumphs this year—first in Greece, and now in Georgia—mark her as a unique talent in Indian chess. As she sets her sights on more global tournaments in the future, including further FIDE events and youth championships, the chess world will be watching her journey closely.From a small city in Kerala to the world stage, Divi Bijesh is not just winning medals—she is inspiring a new generation of chess dreamers across India.
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