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Time of India
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Divya Deshmukh rises as new star of world chess
Divya Deshmukh NAGPUR: In her 14-year journey on the 64 squares, Divya Deshmukh has etched her name in history books. From being the youngest Woman Fide Master (WFM) in 2013 to achieving a new milestone in Batumi, Georgia, by becoming the first Indian to reach the FIDE Women's World Cup final, Divya has become the toast of the nation. In her second attempt in the Women's World Cup, Divya set an Indian record. The 19-year-old World junior champion became the first teenager in 34 years to secure a berth in the Women's Candidates tournament. She also completed her Grandmaster norm and is now one win away from becoming India's fourth woman Grandmaster. Only three Indian women – Koneru Humpy, Harika D and Vaishali Rameshbabu – hold the GM title. The winner of the World Cup will automatically become a GM. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Divya's chess journey began in 2010 when she was five years old. Like many Indian parents, Divya's parents, Dr Jitendra and Namrata, enrolled her in a nearby chess academy. In their residential colony at Shankar Nagar in Nagpur, three sporting activities — badminton, basketball and chess — were taught. While Divya's elder sister Aarya played basketball and badminton, the Deshmukh couple chose chess for Divya. Gradually, she developed interest in the sport and within two years Divya won her first major title – the U-7 national gold in Puducherry in July 2012. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo She did not look back thereafter. Divya made her first international mark by becoming the U-8 Asian Champion in Iran in 2013 and qualified to represent India in the World Youth Championship the following year. In 2014, at eight years and five months old, Divya won her first World Championship title by becoming the youngest U-10 World Champion in Durban, South Africa. She secured the crown by remaining unbeaten and finishing the 11-round event with nine wins and two draws. Since then, Divya has represented India on 40 occasions, achieving 35 podium finishes, bringing home 23 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals. In 2020, Divya was an active member of the Indian Olympiad team that won the event organised online by FIDE. Subsequently, she joined India's top players and began receiving tips from Viswanathan Anand. Within a year, Divya became a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and in 2023 secured the title of International Master (IM), gaining recognition as India's fast-rising chess sensation. In addition to winning eight age category national titles, Divya, at 17 in 2023, became the two-time National women's champion. At 18, she was crowned Asia's chess queen when she won her first Women's Continental title in Kazakhstan. Last year in June, Divya became the World junior champion by collecting 10 points in the 11-round U-20 event. This was Divya's third world title. As per international rating points, Divya progressed from India Junior No.1 to World Junior No.1 — a ranking she has maintained to date. Now a win away from the Women's World Cup title, Divya will look to maintain the momentum in Georgia when she starts her final on Saturday. Given her consistency, she takes one tournament at a time and goes with the flow. Though her dream of becoming a GM is just a step away, Divya can look forward to the Candidates tournament next year in her quest to become a Challenger to the World women's champion, Ju Wenjun of China. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
New Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
At 11, Bengaluru's Charvi making heads turn at Norway Open
STAVANGER: India's chess conveyor belt shows no signs of slowing down. One of the latest to emerge from the seemingly limitless pool is Charvi A, who has already made the likes of Viswanathan Anand sit up and take notice. The 11-year-old, currently in action at the Norway Open event in the city, is a WFM (Woman Fide Master). Already an age-group world champion, what makes the Bengaluru-based Charvi special is the way she's laser-focused in her chess. Even in a game where obsessives are dime-a-dozen, it's unheard of for somebody as young as her to set boundaries. For example, she has already told her parents to not reveal the identity of her coach (she has worked with Swayams Mishra and RB Ramesh in the past). Her dedication also lies in her wanting to learn from her mistakes. After every game, she makes it a point to have a debrief with all of her opponents. "It can go on for 30 minutes also," her mother, Akhila, who left behind her IT job, says. She and her husband Anil Kumar had to rely on YouTube to understand the game and keep pace with their daughter. Her parents were undecided on her daughter pursuing chess but after she won the Under-8 girls World Championship, they were sold on her obvious talents (post that, she also got the highest civilian award given to children for her chess exploits). They were okay pulling her out of school (she only visits to give term exams) apart from customising her training schedule. Apart from chess training, she also goes for swimming and badminton classes in the evening to ensure she gets some physical activity on a daily basis. Charvi has had a mixed Open event but that's to be expected at this level as the players she faces are either higher rated or have more experience. But it will stand her in good stead going forward.
