International Master Divya Deshmukh advanced to the final by overcoming former World Champion Zhongyi Tan from China in the second game of the semi-finals, securing victory in the mini-match with a score of 1.5-0.5 during the FIDA Women’s World Chess Cup on Wednesday. In the course of events, Divya achieved the distinction of being the first Indian to qualify for the Candidates tournament.
The Stakes are considerably elevated here, as securing the final berth guarantees her participation in the women’s Candidates’ tournament next year, which will determine the challengers to Wenjun Ju, the current women’s world champion.
Having previously eliminated the second seed, Zoner Jhu from China, and then her fellow countrywoman, Grandmaster D Harika, in the quarterfinals, Divya has proven to be the giant slayer of this event, and her match against Tan showcased her advancing chess abilities.
With Indian boys making significant progress at the pinnacle of the chess world, it is now time for the girls to assert themselves, and Divya emerges as the new contender following R Vaishali.
Divya showcased her tricks and strategies as she transitioned to an Alapin Sicilian opening while playing as white. Her exchange of bishops for knights ensured a favourable pawn advantage in the endgame.
Tan had opportunities during the middle game; however, the former women’s world champion failed to capitalize on them and eventually lost track of the position.
When the endgame commenced, Divya possessed a couple of extra pawns, allowing her to navigate the game comfortably, yet Tan remained resourceful until the very end.
After the chaos settled, Divya had an outside passes pawn, which should have been an easy win, but the fortunes of the game fluctuated significantly. Notably, the match extended to 101 moves.
In the second semi-final, Koneru Humpy drew against the top seed Tingije Lei from China. Playing with the white pieces, Humpy encountered the Slave defense and opted for the well-known exchange variation, which typically leads to either an equal position or a favourable outlook for white.
