IMAGE: Divya Deshmukh is the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. Photograph: FIDE/Andrei Anosov
Teenaged Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh marked a major milestone in her career by clinching the FIDE Women’s World Cup with a tie-break win over seasoned compatriot Koneru Humpy, here Monday.
The victory not just earned the 19-year-old the prestigious title, but also made her a Grandmaster, something which looked improbable when she started the tournament.
The victory for the Nagpur player came after the two classical games played on Saturday and Sunday ended in draws.
After the drawn games, it was the first set of tiebreakers that proved decisive as Humpy lost the battle of nerves. Except the World Cup and the Women’s World Championship, Humpy has won everything under the sun but, and as fate would have it the World Cup title eluded her again.
IMAGE: Divya Deshmukh edged the experienced Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker. Photograph: FIDE/Andrei Anosov
Deshmukh showed steely resolve on Monday, and the bonus for the determination was the Grandmaster title — reserved for the champion of this event.
Deshmukh is now the fourth Indian woman player to achieve the GM feat after Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and R Vaishali.
Humpy, 38, became a Grandmaster in 2002 and Deshmukh was born in 2005.
For the record, Deshmukh became the 88th Grandmaster of the country and if she continues to remain resolute in her endeavour, she has the ability to achieve great success.
IMAGE: Divya Deshmukh is only the fourth woman from India to become a Grandmaster. Photograph: FIDE/Anna Shtourman
It was on the 40th move that Humpy lost her cool and tried to invade the opposition through a pawn sacrifice. Deshmukh could have done better but the rook-and-pawns endgame she reached was still a draw.
This was Deshmukh’s day as Humpy again ran a bit short of time and blundered in the endgame again, leading to a theoretically win position for the younger Indian.
The fortunes in this game fluctuated between a draw and a win for Divya for a long time, till the Nagpur girl prevailed.
An emotional Deshmukh couldn’t hold back her tears following the victory against an opponent twice her age.
“I need time to process it (win). I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this (tournament) I didn’t even have one (GM) norm, and now I am the Grandmaster,” said Divya.
IMAGE: Divya Deshmukh reacts after winning the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. Photograph: FIDE/Anna Shtourman
Five-time World champion Viswanathan Anand, who was keenly following the game, hailed the teenager’s win and called it a “great celebration of Indian chess”.
“Congratulations to @Divyadeshmukh05 on winning the World Cup. Becoming GM and a spot in the candidates. Amazing battle of nerves. @humpy_koneru played a very good event and showed a commendable fighting spirit. The great champion she is! It was a great celebration of Indian chess, particularly Women’s chess,” Anand posted on X.
