Divya Deshmukh beats Tan, enters FIDE Women’s Cup final

Photo: Instagram/@fide

On Wednesday, young Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh made history by reaching the final of the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup. She defeated former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi of China in the semi-final match. This win was very important because it also confirmed Divya’s place in the upcoming Candidates’ tournament, which will decide who will challenge Wenjun Ju, the current women’s world chess champion.

Who is Divya Deshmukh?

Divya Deshmukh is a talented young chess player from India. She has the title of International Master. In chess, this is a big achievement because it shows her strong skills and understanding of the game. Divya has been improving very fast in the past few years. Her performance in this World Cup shows how hard she works to achieve her dreams.

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Her Journey to the Final

In this tournament, Divya was not considered the top favourite. But she surprised everyone by defeating very strong players. First, she defeated second seed Zhongyi Tan of China, who is a former world champion. Before this match, Divya also defeated Grandmaster D Harika, who is her fellow Indian and one of India’s best women chess players. This shows that Divya is not afraid to play against strong and experienced opponents. She plays with confidence and smart strategies.

Her Semi-final Match Against Tan Zhongyi

In the semi-final, Divya played two games against Tan Zhongyi. She won the second game and drew the first game, winning the mini-match with a score of 1.5-0.5.

In the second game, Divya played with white pieces. She started the game by using an opening called the Alapin Sicilian. In this opening, white tries to avoid the main Sicilian lines and goes for a more controlled game. During the game, Divya exchanged her bishops for Tan’s knights. This move gave her a better position because it guaranteed a pawn plus endgame for her.

Tan Zhongyi Missed Her Chances

Tan Zhongyi had some chances in the middle part of the game to equalise. However, she could not find the right moves at the right time. She lost the thread of the position, meaning she could not understand the best plan in that situation. Because of this, Divya managed to take control of the game.

A Long and Tough Battle

This was not an easy win for Divya. The game was very long and lasted for 101 moves. In chess, a game with more than 100 moves is considered very long and tiring. Even though Divya had a couple of extra pawns in the endgame, Tan Zhongyi kept fighting till the last moment. Divya had an outside passed pawn, which is a pawn that has no enemy pawns blocking its way to promotion on the side of the board. Usually, this is enough to win easily, but the game kept going back and forth because of strong defensive moves by Tan.

Finally, Divya managed to use her extra pawns correctly and win the game. Her victory shows her patience, strong calculation, and focus during long games.

What Does This Win Mean for Divya?

By reaching the final, Divya became the first Indian woman to qualify for the Candidates’ tournament. The Candidates’ tournament is the event where the best women chess players fight for the chance to challenge the current world champion Wenjun Ju. This is a dream for every chess player because becoming a world champion is the highest title one can achieve.

Other Indian Women in Chess

Before Divya, India had many strong women players like Koneru Humpy and D Harika. They have represented India for many years in the top tournaments. Recently, R Vaishali also performed well and made India proud. Now, Divya Deshmukh has joined this list of great women chess players from India.

Indian Girls Are Shining in Chess

For the past few years, Indian boys like R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi have been performing very well in international chess and defeating top players. Now, it is the turn of Indian girls to shine. Divya’s performance proves that Indian girls are equally talented and hardworking in chess.

Other Semi-final Match: Koneru Humpy vs Tingjie Lei

In the other semi-final match, India’s top woman Grandmaster Koneru Humpy played against top seed Tingjie Lei of China. Humpy played with white pieces and chose the Slav defense exchange variation. This variation is known for creating equal positions, but it also gives some chances to white.

During the game, Humpy managed to get the Bishop pair against Lei’s two knights. Usually, having two bishops is a small advantage because they can control long diagonals. The queens were exchanged early on the 19th move. The game slowly reached a rook and pawn endgame, where Humpy had an extra pawn.

No Win for Humpy Despite Extra Pawn

Even though Humpy had an extra pawn, it was not enough to win. Lei played very solidly, and the position did not change much. Finally, the game ended in a draw after 75 moves because neither side could make progress. This means Humpy and Lei will now play tie-breaker games in a shorter time format to decide who will reach the final.

Divya’s Strategy in Her Winning Game

Divya’s win was a combination of good opening choice, strong middle game strategy, and calm endgame technique. Her decision to exchange bishops for knights gave her a clear plan. She focused on creating small advantages, like better pawn structure and activity of pieces. In chess, small advantages can be converted into a win with patience and accuracy, and that is what Divya did.

Why Is This Win Important for Indian Chess?

This win is very important for Indian chess because it shows the growth of young players in the country. India has been producing many talented chess players in recent years, and now Divya has added her name to that list by reaching the final of the World Cup and qualifying for the Candidates’ tournament.

Divya Deshmukh’s victory against former world champion Tan Zhongyi in the semi-finals of the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup is a proud moment for India. She has not only reached the final but also qualified for the women’s Candidates’ tournament, becoming the first Indian woman to do so. Her journey shows that with hard work, smart preparation, and confidence, young players can achieve great success in international sports. Divya is an inspiration for many young girls in India who dream of becoming champions one day.