Batumi (Georgia), Jul 28 (PTI): In a moment of remarkable triumph, 19-year-old Indian chess sensation Divya Deshmukh clinched the FIDE Women's World Cup title after a dramatic tie-break victory over the experienced Koneru Humpy on Monday. This triumph not only secured the prestigious title for Deshmukh but also earned her the coveted title of Grandmaster, a feat that seemed improbable at the start of the tournament.
After their two classical games ended in draws over the weekend, it was the nerve-wracking tie-breakers that proved decisive. Humpy, despite her illustrious track record, succumbed to the pressure, allowing the young star from Nagpur to shine. Having achieved almost everything else in her illustrious career, the World Cup title continued to elude Humpy.
Demonstrating incredible determination and skill, Deshmukh not only claimed the World Cup but also became the fourth Indian woman to achieve the Grandmaster title, following in the footsteps of stalwarts like Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and R Vaishali.
Humpy, who earned her Grandmaster title way back in 2002 when Deshmukh was only one year old, faced a relentless onslaught from the young prodigy. In the initial tie-breaker, Deshmukh's energy and strategic prowess unbalanced Humpy, setting the stage for her eventual victory.
The match saw Deshmukh deploy the Petroff defense, leading to an isolated Queen-pawn middle game where she sacrificed a pawn, allowing Humpy better prospects. Yet, under time pressure, Humpy faltered, reaching an endgame unfavorable for her. Despite approaching equality, their struggle concluded in a draw.
The return game witnessed Humpy using the Catalan opening, yet Deshmukh, well-prepared, neutralized her opponent's aggression. Humpy's early pawn sacrifice led to an endgame that appeared equal, but it was on the 40th move that Humpy's gamble led to complications. Though Deshmukh could have optimized her position better, the resultant rook-and-pawn endgame saw their fortunes seesaw but ultimately favored the younger contender.
Deshmukh's resolve gradually wore down Humpy, leading to a blunder in the endgame and eventually securing a theoretically won position for Deshmukh. The Nagpur chess star's victory was emotional, and her tears of joy encapsulated her journey from underdog to champion.
Post-match, a humble Deshmukh reflected on her victory, expressing disbelief at her rapid ascent to Grandmaster status. "I need time to process it. I think it was fate, getting the Grandmaster title this way since, before this tournament, I didn't even have one GM norm," she stated.
Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand also chimed in, praising Deshmukh's performance and acknowledging the skill and fighting spirit demonstrated by both finalists. "Congratulations to @Divyadeshmukh05 on winning the World Cup. Becoming GM and earning a spot in the candidates is amazing. @humpy_koneru played excellently and showed commendable fighting spirit. This is a great celebration of Indian chess, especially Women's chess," Anand remarked on 'X'.
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