Divya Deshmukh creates history, storms into FIDE Women's World Cup final

India’s teenage chess sensation Divya Deshmukh scripted history on Wednesday by becoming the first Indian to reach the final of the prestigious FIDE Women’s World Cup, currently underway in Batumi, Georgia. The 19-year-old stunned the chess world by defeating former World Champion and current World No. 4, Tan Zhongyi of China, in the semifinal, marking the biggest win of her young but rapidly rising career.

After drawing the first classical game with black pieces, Divya clinched the second leg with a win using white pieces, securing a 1.5-0.5 victory in the two-game match. She



employed an aggressive and unpredictable Alapin Sicilian Defence to seize the advantage in a fluctuating game, eventually converting her chances with clinical precision.

Divya's journey to the final has been nothing short of remarkable. In the earlier rounds, she knocked out the second seed, Zhu Jiner of China, before overcoming her more experienced compatriot and India No. 2, Harika Dronavalli, in the quarterfinals. That match had gone into tiebreaks after both classical games ended in draws, but Divya’s composure and attacking style helped her prevail over the 34-year-old veteran.