Divya Deshmukh, the newly crowned Women’s chess World Cup champion, was felicitated by the Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday. Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who had finished runner-up to Divya, joined online from her home for the felicitation. “Grandmasters like you serve as inspiration for the new generation. More youngsters will take to sports, especially…
Indian chess has never had it this good, showcasing its growing prowess with consistency and signalling that the best may still lie ahead. After five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand’s glorious years, Indian chess is now witnessing success stories like never before. In the past year alone, the country swept gold at the Chess Olympiad, 18-year-old…
Abundantly talented but more significantly, incredibly cool in crunch situations, that’s how India’s 88th Grandmaster and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh was described by her formative coach Srinath Narayanan, who feels the 19-year-old chess wizard’s composure is comparable only to cricket great MS Dhoni. Divya became a part of the growing list of young achievers…
India’s Divya Deshmukh beat compatriot Koneru Humpy in tiebreaks to claim the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup title on Monday, in Batumi, Georgia. The 19-year-old Divya triumphed in the second rapid game, after having drawn the first game. Playing with black pieces, Divya capitalised on an endgame mistake from the experienced Humpy to gain an…
India’s Divya Deshmukh beat China’s Tan Zhongyi in Game 2 of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal to secure a spot in the final, in Batumi, Georgia on Wednesday. The Indian chess star outplayed her opponent with white pieces to claim a 1.5-0.5 win in the semifinal, after having drawn the first game on Tuesday….