Latest news with #Divya
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Meet Divya Deshmukh, the 19-year-old IM taking the world of chess by storm
It's been a barnstorming campaign in Batumi for the 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh, who became the first-ever Indian player to enter the FIDE Women's World Cup final in the Georgian city on Wednesday after defeating Tan Zhongyi, a former women's world champion. 102 other players started the FIDE Women's World Cup hoping to be in the position Divya finds herself today: a finalist which also ensures she gets a spot at the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament. The win over China's Tan also ensures Divya seals the first of the three norms needed to become India's only fourth woman to be a grandmaster. Divya's challenger in the final will be decided on Thursday, when the veteran Koneru Humpy and China's Lei Tingjie fight in the tiebreaks, which means there could be an India vs India fight for the title. The win over Tan Zhongyi was particularly memorable for the girl from Nagpur: after ending the first game with a quick draw, Divya and Tan duelled for over five hours, making just over 100 moves each to emerge triumphant. Tan has been a women's world champion as late as 2018 and just earlier this year was fighting in the women's world chess championship to reclaim the crown. 'What's the fun of going into the final the easy way? Wouldn't be me if it wasn't dramatic,' Divya wrote on her social media after the win over Tan. Remarkably, while her opponent was fighting for the greatest title of all in women's chess this year, it was only in June last year that Divya became the world junior champion. It's taken her 13 months to find herself on the cusp of winning one of the most treacherous tournaments in chess. Divya's run to the final can only be compared to the one that Praggnanandhaa made in 2023 at the FIDE World Cup as an 18-year-old, defeating players like Arjun Erigaisi, World No.3 Fabiano Caruana and World No.2 Hikaru Nakamura before losing the final to Magnus Carlsen. Just like Pragg's 2023 moment, at the ongoing World Cup, Divya had dispatched Serbian IM Teodora Injac, world No.6 from China Zhu Jiner, veteran Indian grandmaster Dronavalli Harika before beating a former women's world champion. 'This is a huge achievement. The fact that she beat players like Zhu Jiner, Tan Zhongyi and Harika is quite impressive. She's someone who has a lot of potential, so I wouldn't say this is unexpected. But people were waiting for this and it's nice that she's delivered,' five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand told The Indian Express. 'Personally, this represents a breakthrough. Because her results at the FIDE Women's Grand Prix events (which she played recently) weren't at this level. This will be a huge boost to her confidence,' added Anand. Divya has attended multiple sessions at Anand's Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA) to sharpen her game play. As late as 2023, Divya wasn't even certain she wanted to pursue chess full-time. Divya had told The Indian Express in an interaction after winning the title at the Tata Steel Chess India's rapid tournament in Kolkata, that she was 'still exploring' if she wants to continue playing chess full time or focus on further studies. 'A lot fascinates me. I'm not sure which field to choose,' she had said then. Divya's tryst with chess started almost accidentally. As the teenager had recounted in 2023: 'I started playing the sport accidentally. My sister used to go to badminton classes, one day my parents took me as well. But I was just four or five years old then, and I didn't even reach the badminton net. There was a chess class happening in the same building, so my parents took me there. I liked the sport. Then, I just stuck with chess.' While her elder sister stopped playing badminton a while back, Divya's conquests on the board have brought her closer to becoming the fourth Indian woman to become a grandmaster. Ask grandmaster Abhijit Kunte, who has seen Divya's rise from close quarters, what her best attributes are, and he says: 'She has always been very brave, someone never afraid to experiment.' But Kunte points out that she didn't have too much exposure to elite top-level chess before this year, when she played in multiple events of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix. Anand, meanwhile, praises Divya for her penchant for attacking chess. 'She does lean (towards) aggressive (chess). But that seems to be the general trend in women's chess these days,' he said. Kunte, on the other hand, is impressed by Divya's maturity at the age of 19. After the first game with Tan ended in a draw, Divya was almost disappointed with herself, even though she had held one of the strongest players in women's chess to a draw with black pieces. Then after the 101-move rollercoaster in the second game which saw her beat Tan, Divya was again thinking of ways she could have done better. 'I could have played much better. I was winning at one point, then I messed up in the middle game. I should have had a much smoother win,' Divya admitted in an interview right after the win. 'This kind of maturity at 19 is not easy to get. It's very rare in women's chess,' Kunte had said.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Divya Deshmukh one step away from historic World Cup title; but all she wants now is 'sleep and food'
NEW DELHI: Her eyes were drooping, fingers trembling, and words faltering; yet, for a 19-year-old, Divya Deshmukh showed remarkable composure. 'I don't really have much to say. My thoughts aren't clear right now,' said the elated teenager, moments after her stunning semi-final win over third seed Tan Zhongyi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Hailing from Nagpur, the International Master (IM) has been throwing surprises to the higher-ranked Grandmasters (GMs) throughout the tournament. Wednesday was no different, as she picked a basketful of milestones in Batumi, Georgia, becoming the first Indian to reach the FIDE Women's World Cup final, securing a spot in the Candidates Tournament next year, earning her first Grandmaster (GM) norm, and rewarding herself with an extra rest day before the final. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Asked about her plans for Thursday, when World No. 4 Koneru Humpy plays a tie-breaker against World No. 2 Lei Tingjie in the other semi-final, and the Friday rest day, she replied simply: 'I need some sleep. These days have been so anxious. I just need some sleep and some food." A tired figure, Divya may finally get the proper sleep she's long been denied before refocusing for the summit clash. But her run so far has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over six rounds en route to the final, Divya has survived two tie-breaks, one against Chinese GM Zhu Jiner and fellow Indian, GM Harika Dronavalli, winning with 2.5–1.5 and 3–1 scores in Round 4 and the quarterfinals, respectively. 'When I initially went into the tournament, I knew that I didn't want to play any tie-breaks, but that is not my fate!' said Divya after her tie-break win over GM Zhu Jiner. Entering the fray as the 15th seed, Divya had hoped to avoid the energy-sapping loop of tie-breaks, which bring with them a fresh set of games, new openings, novel defences, and all the pressure they entail. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Perhaps that's why, playing with White and already holding a Game 1 win, Divya looked eager to close the deal early in Game 2 of the semi-final, making it a topsy-turvy affair. A classic king's pawn opening (e4) was countered by the Sicilian Defense. Despite losing two pawns early on, she maintained her grip in the centre and castled by move 10, appearing well-settled. Two weak knight moves (Nc7, Nd3) from Tan were countered by Divya's Ne4, a sharp move, as confirmed by engines. With both players making errors and offering opportunities for a comeback to each other mid way through the game, an affair that could have ended much earlier stretched over five long hours. By move 88, the game was finely balanced until Tan played Rb4+, checking Divya's king. She responded with Kh3. Even with more than five minutes on the clock, Tan miscalculated and faltered after Kh3. Two crucial Kc6 moves on the 91st and 93rd turns solidified Divya's position, and on move 98, she promoted a pawn to a queen. Though Tan's rook immediately captured it with Rxb8, Divya replied with Rxb8, giving India a rook advantage. Two moves later, Tan resigned. Last summer, Divya Deshmukh became the new world junior girls' chess champion, clinching the U-20 crown. After that win, her first words were: 'My initial goal is to become a Grandmaster (GM) as soon as possible.' A year later, she has her first GM norm, a minimum prize of US$35,000, a spot in next year's Candidates Tournament, which could lead to a World Championship match. And the Women's World Cup title is one step away, Divya!
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Divya Deshmukh becomes first Indian to reach FIDE Women's World Cup finals, beats former World Champion Zhongyi Tan
International Master Divya Deshmukh stormed into the final, defeating former World Champion Zhongyi Tan of China in the second game of the semifinals and winning the mini-match 1.5-0.5 in the FIDE Women's World Chess Cup on Wednesday. India's Divya Deshmukh reacts during her semifinal chess match against China's Tan Zhongyi.(FIDE) In the process, Divya became the first Indian to make it to the Candidates' tournament. The stakes are high here as the final berth also ensured her entry in the women's Candidates' tournament next year that will decide the challenger to Wenjun Ju, the reigning women's world champion. Having already eliminated second seed Zoner Jhu of China and then compatriot Grandmaster D Harika in the quarterfinals, Divya continued to be the giant slayer of the event and her game against Tan was a testament to her growing chess skills. With the Indian boys making a great headway at the top of the chess world, it was already time for the girls to have a say and Divya is the new girl on the block after R Vaishali. It was tricks and strategy at display by Divya as she converted to an Alapin Sicilian as white and her time exchange of Bishops for knights guaranteed a pawn plus endgame. Tan had her chances in the middle game but the former women's world champion did not make use of them and at some point simply missed the thread of the position. As the endgame arrived, Divya had a couple of extra pawns to coast but Tan remained resourceful right till the end of the game. Divya had an outside passed pawn after the dust subsided and it should have been an easy picking, but the fortunes fluctuated a lot. For the record, the game lasted 101 moves. In the second semifinal, Koneru Humpy drew with top seed Tingjie Lei of China. Playing white, Humpy faced the Slav defense and went for the iconic exchange variation that normally yields to either equal or giving white the better prospect. The opening yielded nothing special for Humpy but she got the Bishop pair against two knights to prepare for an advantage. The Queens were traded as early as on 19th move and the payers eventually reached a rook and pawn endgame wherein the Indian enjoyed an extra pawn. However, with the extra pawn not so relevant, Lei stayed in the loop as the position was not changing much. The draw was a just result when Humpy had just one extra pawn remaining in the rook and pawns endgame and the point was split after 75 moves. Humpy will now play the tie-breaker against Lei in shorter format.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Divya Deshmukh scripts history, books her spot in Candidates
Batumi: India's Divya Deshmukh reacts during semifinal chess match against China�s Tan Zhongyi in FIDE Women�s World Cup 2025, in Batumi, Georgia. (FIDE/Anna Shtourman via PTI Photo) (PTI07_23_2025_000017A) India No. 4 Divya Deshmukh played well within herself and carved out a sensational victory over former champion from China, Tan Zhongyi, to secure a historic final berth in the FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, on Wednesday. The 19-year-old Indian trusted her instincts and utilised the extra pawn to win the marathon 101-move battle in the second classical game for a 1.5-0.5 triumph in the semifinal. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Divya became the first teenager in 34 years to secure a berth in the Women's Candidates tournament. The International Master (IM) from Nagpur also duly completed her Grandmaster norm. In the final to be played from Saturday, Divya will face the winner of India No. 1 Koneru Humpy and top-seeded third-ranked Chinese GM Lei Tingjie. The second classical battle of the semifinal between these experienced GMs ended in an entertaining 75move draw where both played at an accuracy rate of 93%. The battle between Divya and three-time semifinalist Tan went down to the wire. Looking for a decisive advantage with white pieces, Divya started with the basic king's pawn opening while Tan chose the Alapin Sicilian defense. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tips for the Purchasing of Used Vehicles: latest competitive rates answerwizardy Learn More Undo On the fourth move, Divya advanced her centre pawn and made her intentions clear of going for an all-out attacking game. On the 12th and 13th turns, Tan made back-to-back dubious moves, and Divya looked in an advantageous position as the pieces of the Chinese GM lacked coordination. A notable move on the 14th turn by Divya strengthened her position. Left with no option, Tan sacrificed her knight for Divya's bishop. On the 15th turn, Divya played a wrong move. If Divya traded the queens, she could have had a decisive advantage as per the computers, but she took Tan's knight with her queen to keep an edge in the clash with a pleasant and easy-to-play position. Thereafter, Tan made a blunder with her second bishop, and Divya took control of the centre by sliding her rook. Both players made a couple of dubious moves on the 17th and 18th turns, and Divya lost the near accuracy of her play. After castling, Tan escaped from the clutches of Divya. On the 23rd move, Divya went a pawn up and eventually utilised her extra pawn to win a thrill-a-minute battle. Poll What do you think about Divya Deshmukh's performance in the semifinal? Outstanding Good but could improve Average Disappointing For the next 50-odd moves, Tan tried many tricks but Divya held her ground and reached a position with two extra pawns — with one a move away from getting exchanged as the queen. Divya sacrificed her defensive pawn on the 86th move. On the 98th turn, Divya converted her much-awaited pawn into a queen and Tan lost her rook. With Divya enjoying the services of a rook and a pawn against Tan's two pawns, she made the decisive 101st move with her king and Tan was left with no option but to resign. Having qualified for the final and also the Candidates, Divya automatically secured her GM norm. Divya later said, 'My thoughts are not clear as of now. I need some sleep and some food.' On the semifinal she said, 'I could have played and had a much smoother win. I messed up in the middle game.' Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘I'm sorry for all the heart attacks today': Divya Deshmukh after trumping Tan Zhongyi in FIDE World Cup semis
Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh has been a revelation in the ongoing FIDE Women's World Cup 2025, happening in Batumi, Georgia. The 19-year-old knocked out former World Champion Tan Zhongyi in the semifinal to become the first-ever Indian woman to reach the finals of the World Cup. She also qualified for the prestigious Candidates tournament and won her first GM norm in the process. Beating Tan wasn't a cakewalk for the Nagpur girl. In an extremely wild game where the position was so sharp that the evaluation bar was dancing every move. Eventually it came down to a nervy rook endgame, which is a draw-prone endgame, but Divya converted the game by having an extra pawn. The topsy-turvy win meant Divya didn't have to take the semifinal to the tiebreaks and get two days of rest before playing her first final. After the game, Divya apologised for giving so many 'heart attacks' due to her wild game. She posted on Instagram stories, 'I'm sorry for all the heart attacks today.' 'Jokes apart, thank you for all the support and love. Ready for the final fight,' wrote Divya. The teenage sensation was interviewed by the official broadcasters just after registering the biggest win of her career. On being quizzed on the game, a perplexed Divya, who was still soaking in all the emotions after a stunning Tan, the current World Championship challenger, a zoned out Divya said: I don't know… I think I could have played much better.' 'I was winning at one point, then I messed up in the middle game. I think I should have had a much smoother win. She (Tan) put up such a good fight after a point that I was just doubting if this will end up as a draw but I think I got lucky in the end,' she added. Divya will face the winner of Koneru Humpy vs Lei Tingjie, whose semifinal clash has moved to tiebreaks after the duo played out two draws in their Classical legs. A relieved Divya, who will get an extra day of rest before an all-important final, said: 'I need some sleep…. these days have been so anxious. I just need some sleep and some food.'
