New Delhi, July 29: 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh beat 38-year-old Koneru Humpy in an all-Indian final to become the first Indian champion of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. Divya beat Humpy using black pieces in the second rapid tie-breaker game on Monday in Batumi, Georgia, to clinch the crown.After two days of intense classical chess ending in draws, the winner had to be decided via tie-breaker on Monday.
Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh played out a draw in the first rapid tie-breaker, before Divya triumphed in the second. The win helps Divya earn the ‘Grandmaster’ title and also ensures her qualification to the Candidates tournament.
Divya said, “I need time to process it. I think it was fate that I get the GM title this way. Before this tournament, I didn’t even have one norm. It definitely means a lot. There’s a lot more to achieve. I’m hoping this is just the start.”
In his greetings, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Ecstasy for India!
Congratulations to @DivyaDeshmukh05 on winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup Final and achieving the marvellous feat of becoming a Grandmaster. Your tenacity and mindfulness have truly earned you this crown.
Also, congratulations to @humpy_koneru on a remarkable run in the tournament. Wishing both of you the very best in your future endeavours!
#FIDEWorldCup
Since Humpy became a grandmaster, just two women — Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali Rameshbabu — from India have followed suit. Divya now joins that list.
The Divya vs Humpy finale was a battle of generations, with the 19-year-old Divya being half the age of the veteran Humpy, who is India’s first woman to become a grandmaster. But more importantly, it was a battle between two Indians while two Chinese stars, Tan Zhongyi and Lei Tingjie, fought for the third spot. Having two Indians make it to the final from a field of 107 players was an indicator that just like in the open section, where the likes of Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa have started to assert themselves, India could drive women’s chess in the immediate future after decades of dominance by Chinese and Russian grandmasters.
While Divya’s path to the title went through the likes of World No.6 from China, Zhu Jiner, the veteran Indian Harika Dronavalli, and former women’s world champion from China, Tan Zhongyi, before the final, Humpy had also defeated two strong Chinese players on way to the title clash – Lei Tingjie and Song Yuxin – besides taking down Alexandra Kosteniuk, the Russian-Swiss grandmaster.