The 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh at the FIDE Women’s World Cup signals that Indian chess’s ascent is far from over.

K.S.R.A. Praneeth, an 18-year-old battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, competed in the World IPCA Chess Championship in Goa, earning a medal and boosting his FIDE rating. Despite health challenges, ...