14-Year-Old Telugu Chess Prodigy Deekshitha Makes Rapid Rise

Telugu states have produced several celebrated chess players, including Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Pentala Harikrishna, Arjun Erigaisi, Lalith Babu and Raja Rithvik. Now, another promising talent is rapidly making her mark in the sport. Fourteen-year-old Modipalli Deekshitha has emerged as one of the brightest young chess talents from the Telugu states, making a remarkable climb at the international level. The Under-16 player has recently secured her first International Master norm, adding another major milestone to her growing career. Her recent performances have also resulted in a dramatic rise in the ratings and rankings.

Deekshitha’s family hails from Hampapuram in Anantapur, while her father, Seshadri Nayudu, works in the software industry. The family is now settled in Hyderabad. She began her chess journey under International Master Krishna Teja at Velocity Chess Academy and quickly made her presence felt in age-group competitions. She won the National Under-13 Championship and the National School Games chess title before making her mark on the European circuit. In her recent European events, including tournaments in Spain, France and Portugal, Deekshitha registered several impressive victories against higher-rated opponents, including titled players. Her rapid rating growth reflects her fighting spirit and consistency. Her coach Krishna Teja has praised her mental strength, noting that she does not give up after mistakes and instead continues to fight until the very end.