Divya Deshmukh (Image credit: FIDE) NAGPUR: “I’m sure it will happen sooner than later.” Divya Deshmukh, fresh from becoming the world junior chess champion, exuded confidence to play the candidates. That was June 2024.Last July, Divya qualified as a 2026 contender by becoming India’s first Women’s World Cup winner while also winning the Grandmaster title. Thirteen months later, you could say the future has arrived.
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Abhimanyu Puranik Exclusive: Chess Journey, Help Divya Deshmukh in World Cup, Grand Swiss and more In the two-round eight-player World Cup candidate chess that begins in Cyprus on Sunday, Divya, who is making her debut at 20, will be the youngest of the lot.Of her seven opponents in Cyprus, six are rated higher and Divya (Elo 2497) has nothing to lose and will play aggressively while using her weapon of better opening preparation. The Nagpur girl could prove to be a fierce opponent as she likes to make attacking moves on the court while managing tricky situations with a cool head.Divya opens her campaign against 36-year-old Anna Muzychuk, who became eligible after India’s No.1 Koneru Humpy withdrew due to security concerns in West Asia. Out of three head-to-head matches, Divya lost once and drew twice with 2522 Elo Ukrainian.In the second round, Divya will face 24-year-old Vaishali Rameshbabu, against whom she enjoys better classical records. Aleksandra Gorjačkina will be next behind Divya and has a modest record against the highest ranked Russian in history.It is in the fourth and fifth rounds that the Indian duo will try to get the most points. Despite losing against both of her highly rated Chinese GMs – Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi – Divya’s success against them in the World Cup will give her the confidence to squeeze out all the important points.Kazakhstan’s talented CEO Bibisara Assaubayeva will be Divya’s toughest test. After playing the sixth round with the three-time reigning World Blitz Champion, Divya will face 22-year-old Bibisara again in the final and 14th essay.Before the rematch, Divya will face two-time European women’s champion, 36-year-old Kateryna Lagno of Russia. 2508 Elo Kateryna could spoil Divya’s party like she did in Kolkata this year by winning back-to-back matches in the faster format.Last March 18 in Cyprus, Divya suffered a 66-move defeat against Muzychuk and the Ukrainian became the Women’s Grand Prix champion. If Divya avenges her defeat against Muzychuk in the opening round of the candidates, she can carry confidence into the remaining 13 rounds.The once shy and now talkative Divya once told TOI about handling the pressure, “I’ve been carrying the pressure for many years. So honestly, after a point it doesn’t matter. Obviously the pressure will be there; it comes to your mind, but I don’t look at it or think about it.”
