नवीनतम
Divya Deshmukh first Indian to reach FIDE Women’s WC final
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: International Master Divya Deshmukh created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the final of the FIDE Women's World Chess Cup on Wednesday. She defeated former world champion Zhongyi Tan of China in the second game of the semifinals to win the mini-match 1.5-0.5.
With this win, Divya has also become the first Indian woman to qualify for the prestigious Candidates' tournament, which will decide the challenger to reigning women's world champion Wenjun Ju next year.
Divya had earlier knocked out second seed Zhongsu Jhu of China and then fellow Indian Grandmaster D Harika in the quarterfinals. Her victory over Tan further confirmed her status as the giant slayer of the tournament.
With the Indian boys making a great headway at the top of the chess world, it was already time for the girls to have a say and Divya is surely on the block after R Vaishali.
Playing as white, Divya went for the Alapin Sicilian and carefully exchanged her bishops for knights, leading to a pawn-plus endgame. Tan had her chances in the middle game but failed to capitalise, losing her grip on the position.
Despite Tan's resistance till the very end, Divya's outside passed pawn in the endgame made the difference. It was a long and fluctuating battle that lasted 101 moves.
In the other semifinal, Grandmaster Koneru Humpy drew her game against top seed Tingjie Lei of China. Humpy, playing white, faced the Slav Defence and opted for the exchange variation, aiming for balance or a small edge.
Though the opening did not give her much, Humpy gained the bishop pair and an extra pawn in a rook and pawn endgame. However, the extra pawn did not offer enough advantage, and the game ended in a draw after 75 moves.
Humpy will now face Lei in a tie-breaker which will decide the second finalist.
