Nineteen-year-old Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh has made history by defeating former women’s world champion Tan Zhongyi to secure her spot in the FIDE Women’s World Cup final.
An Epic Five-Hour Showdown
The semi-final clash was nothing short of a chess thriller. Spanning five grueling hours and 101 moves, the game saw an incredible back-and-forth battle where both players held advantages and made crucial errors.
Divya emerged victorious after a nail-biting finish, with her opponent, Tan Zhongyi, ultimately resigning. The tension was palpable, with Divya seen composing herself and Tan looking aghast as the game slipped away.
“I could have played much better,” Divya admitted with a smile after the win. She acknowledged her own mistakes and felt a bit “lucky” in the end, highlighting the dramatic nature of the match.
The Critical Turns of the Game
Divya initially gained an edge around move 13, but then squandered it with an inaccuracy on move 19. Former world champion Tan Zhongyi then took control, seemingly heading for a win.
However, a reckless move by Tan on move 32 offered Divya a lifeline, bringing the game back to an even footing. Divya capitalized, gaining a two-pawn advantage even with limited time on her clock.
The drama wasn’t over. Divya made her own blunder on move 79, almost leading to a draw by repetition. But in a final twist, Tan made a decisive error on move 90, handing Divya the clear advantage she needed to secure the win ten moves later.
A Milestone Achievement
This monumental victory not only propelled Divya into the FIDE Women’s World Cup final but also earned her a prestigious Grandmaster (GM) norm. More importantly, she has secured a coveted spot in the upcoming FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament.
Divya will now face either Koneru Humpy or Lei Tingjie in the final, who will play rapid tiebreaks to decide the other finalist. Her win means she gets an extra day of rest, a welcome break from the intense competition.
Divya’s Remarkable Journey
Divya Deshmukh has been the breakout star of this year’s Women’s World Cup in Batumi. Her path to the final has seen her overcome formidable opponents, including Serbia’s IM Injac Teodora, China’s world No. 6 Zhu Jiner, and Indian veteran Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika, before her stunning defeat of Tan Zhongyi.
Her incredible performance draws parallels to fellow Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa’s giant-killing run at the 2023 FIDE World Cup. Divya’s recent accolades include becoming a World Junior Champion last year and winning team and individual gold at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
- Divya Deshmukh, 19, defeated former world champion Tan Zhongyi.
- The match was a dramatic, 101-move battle lasting five hours.
- Divya’s win earns her a GM norm and a spot in the FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament.
- She now advances to the FIDE Women’s World Cup final.
With a well-deserved day of rest, Divya now prepares for the biggest match of her young career.
Nineteen-year-old Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh has made history by defeating former women’s world champion Tan Zhongyi to secure her spot in the FIDE Women’s World Cup final.
An Epic Five-Hour Showdown
The semi-final clash was nothing short of a chess thriller. Spanning five grueling hours and 101 moves, the game saw an incredible back-and-forth battle where both players held advantages and made crucial errors.
Divya emerged victorious after a nail-biting finish, with her opponent, Tan Zhongyi, ultimately resigning. The tension was palpable, with Divya seen composing herself and Tan looking aghast as the game slipped away.
“I could have played much better,” Divya admitted with a smile after the win. She acknowledged her own mistakes and felt a bit “lucky” in the end, highlighting the dramatic nature of the match.
The Critical Turns of the Game
Divya initially gained an edge around move 13, but then squandered it with an inaccuracy on move 19. Former world champion Tan Zhongyi then took control, seemingly heading for a win.
However, a reckless move by Tan on move 32 offered Divya a lifeline, bringing the game back to an even footing. Divya capitalized, gaining a two-pawn advantage even with limited time on her clock.
The drama wasn’t over. Divya made her own blunder on move 79, almost leading to a draw by repetition. But in a final twist, Tan made a decisive error on move 90, handing Divya the clear advantage she needed to secure the win ten moves later.
A Milestone Achievement
This monumental victory not only propelled Divya into the FIDE Women’s World Cup final but also earned her a prestigious Grandmaster (GM) norm. More importantly, she has secured a coveted spot in the upcoming FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament.
Divya will now face either Koneru Humpy or Lei Tingjie in the final, who will play rapid tiebreaks to decide the other finalist. Her win means she gets an extra day of rest, a welcome break from the intense competition.
Divya’s Remarkable Journey
Divya Deshmukh has been the breakout star of this year’s Women’s World Cup in Batumi. Her path to the final has seen her overcome formidable opponents, including Serbia’s IM Injac Teodora, China’s world No. 6 Zhu Jiner, and Indian veteran Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika, before her stunning defeat of Tan Zhongyi.
Her incredible performance draws parallels to fellow Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa’s giant-killing run at the 2023 FIDE World Cup. Divya’s recent accolades include becoming a World Junior Champion last year and winning team and individual gold at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
- Divya Deshmukh, 19, defeated former world champion Tan Zhongyi.
- The match was a dramatic, 101-move battle lasting five hours.
- Divya’s win earns her a GM norm and a spot in the FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament.
- She now advances to the FIDE Women’s World Cup final.
With a well-deserved day of rest, Divya now prepares for the biggest match of her young career.
