NEW DELHI: Her eyes were drooping, fingers trembling, and words faltering; yet, for a 19-year-old, Divya Deshmukh showed remarkable composure. “I don’t really have much to say. My thoughts aren’t clear right now,” said the elated teenager, moments after her stunning semi-final win over third seed Tan Zhongyi.Hailing from Nagpur, the International Master (IM) has been throwing surprises to the higher-ranked Grandmasters (GMs) throughout the tournament. Wednesday was no different, as she picked a basketful of milestones in Batumi, Georgia, becoming the first Indian to reach the FIDE Women’s World Cup final, securing a spot in the Candidates Tournament next year, earning her first Grandmaster (GM) norm, and rewarding herself with an extra rest day before the final.Asked about her plans for Thursday, when World No. 4 Koneru Humpy plays a tie-breaker against World No. 2 Lei Tingjie in the other semi-final, and the Friday rest day, she replied simply: “I need some sleep. These days have been so anxious. I just need some sleep and some food.”A tired figure, Divya may finally get the proper sleep she’s long been denied before refocusing for the summit clash. But her run so far has been nothing short of extraordinary.Over six rounds en route to the final, Divya has survived two tie-breaks, one against Chinese GM Zhu Jiner and fellow Indian, GM Harika Dronavalli, winning with 2.5–1.5 and 3–1 scores in Round 4 and the quarterfinals, respectively.
“When I initially went into the tournament, I knew that I didn’t want to play any tie-breaks, but that is not my fate!” said Divya after her tie-break win over GM Zhu Jiner.Entering the fray as the 15th seed, Divya had hoped to avoid the energy-sapping loop of tie-breaks, which bring with them a fresh set of games, new openings, novel defences, and all the pressure they entail.Perhaps that’s why, playing with White and already holding a Game 1 win, Divya looked eager to close the deal early in Game 2 of the semi-final, making it a topsy-turvy affair.A classic king’s pawn opening (e4) was countered by the Sicilian Defense. Despite losing two pawns early on, she maintained her grip in the centre and castled by move 10, appearing well-settled.Two weak knight moves (Nc7, Nd3) from Tan were countered by Divya’s Ne4, a sharp move, as confirmed by engines.
Divya Deshmukh vs Tan (Credit: ChessBase)
With both players making errors and offering opportunities for a comeback to each other mid way through the game, an affair that could have ended much earlier stretched over five long hours.By move 88, the game was finely balanced until Tan played Rb4+, checking Divya’s king. She responded with Kh3.Even with more than five minutes on the clock, Tan miscalculated and faltered after Kh3. Two crucial Kc6 moves on the 91st and 93rd turns solidified Divya’s position, and on move 98, she promoted a pawn to a queen. Though Tan’s rook immediately captured it with Rxb8, Divya replied with Rxb8, giving India a rook advantage.Two moves later, Tan resigned.Last summer, Divya Deshmukh became the new world junior girls’ chess champion, clinching the U-20 crown. After that win, her first words were: “My initial goal is to become a Grandmaster (GM) as soon as possible.”A year later, she has her first GM norm, a minimum prize of US$35,000, a spot in next year’s Candidates Tournament, which could lead to a World Championship match. And the Women’s World Cup title is one step away, Divya!