Young Indian Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh shared her unique mindset during her FIDE Women’s World Cup final victory, revealing she felt no pressure against chess veteran Koneru Humpy.
A Pressure-Free Path to Victory
At just 19, Divya Deshmukh achieved her biggest career success by defeating the formidable 38-year-old Koneru Humpy, a two-time World Rapid champion, in the FIDE Women’s World Cup final. The intense match was decided in a time-controlled tie-break after two classical rounds ended in draws.
Divya credits her victory to a surprising lack of pressure. She felt she had “nothing to lose” as she was the underdog. Humpy’s late blunder under time pressure ultimately sealed the win for the young Grandmaster.
“I never thought I was in any danger. I guess that the last blunder which she (Humpy) made, handed me the win,” Divya stated. “Since I had no results in my hand, so I was just trying to focus on my performance and wasn’t thinking about anything else.”
From Underdog to Champion
Divya entered the World Cup with a modest goal: to secure a Grandmaster norm. What she achieved far exceeded her initial expectations, not only earning her GM title but also a coveted spot in next year’s Candidates tournament.
Her unexpected triumph serves as a powerful testament to focusing on performance rather than the stakes involved.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Chess Players
Following her win, Divya expressed hopes that her success would encourage more women, especially youngsters, to pursue chess passionately. She believes her victory can show aspiring players that “nothing is impossible.”
Her message, however, isn’t primarily for the young generation but for their parents. Divya emphasized the critical role parental support plays, especially during moments of failure rather than just success.
“They should wholeheartedly support their children because they need them more during their failures, not so much in success,” she advised.
The Pillars of Her Success
Upon her return, Divya was quick to credit her family, particularly her parents, for her remarkable journey. She emphasized their unwavering support as instrumental in her career progression.
She also paid an emotional tribute to her first coach, Rahul Joshi, who passed away in 2020 at the young age of 40. “He always wanted me to become the Grandmaster, and this is for him,” she shared, highlighting the profound impact he had on her development.
Divya acknowledged the collective effort of her entire family—her parents, sister Arya, grandmother, and grandfather—in contributing to her success. Their foundational support, she stated, is invaluable.
- Divya Deshmukh felt no pressure against veteran Koneru Humpy, seeing herself as having “nothing to lose.”
- She aimed for a Grandmaster norm but ended up winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup and securing a Candidates spot.
- Divya hopes her win inspires more women to take up chess and urges parents to support their children, especially during failures.
- She credits her family and her late first coach, Rahul Joshi, as the biggest influences on her career.
Divya Deshmukh’s journey from underdog to World Cup champion is a compelling story of mindset, perseverance, and the invaluable support system behind every successful athlete.
