Divya Deshmukh draws comparison with MS Dhoni after historic FIDE World Womens World Cup title
Divya Deshmukh is the first Indian to win the FIDE Women's World Cup crown by winning a thrilling final against Grandmaster and seasoned player Koneru Humpy in Batumi, Georgia.
New Delhi: At 19, Divya Deshmukh has achieved what several Indian women's chess stalwarts haven't managed to do in their entire careers. The Nagpur youngster, on Monday, scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women's World Cup crown by winning a thrilling final against Grandmaster and seasoned player Koneru Humpy in Batumi, Georgia.
The taste of the victory became even sweeter when Deshmukh, courtesy of the landmark achievement, became India's 88th Grandmaster and also sealed a spot in the Candidates Chess.
It's remarkable how the young chess star remained calm and composed against a player of Humpy's calibre in such a high-stakes contest, which was decided via a tie-breaker after a fierce battle spread across three days.
For Srinath Narayanan, Deshmukh's remarkable mental toughness is one of her biggest weapons. Deshmukh's formative coach feels that the 19-year-old chess player's composure is comparable only to legendary cricketer MS Dhoni.
The magnitude of Deshmukh's achievement can be judged by the pedigree of her opponent. Deshmukh got the better of Humpy, 38, one of the most accomplished players in Indian women's chess for more than two decades.
She has won several titles, including two World Rapid Championships, two Asian Games gold medals. She was also a key part of the Chess Olympiad gold-winning team.
Divya's win a watershed moment for Indian chess
"She's quite an aggressive player. But with time, Divya has become more all-round, more versatile. I think she's equally good across all the different formats... Classical, Rapid and Blitz," Srinath told PTI over the phone from Chennai.
"And her strength is, I think, turning up in those big moments, crunch situations. Like how Mahendra Singh Dhoni used to win the matches in the last over.
Srinath, who kept Deshmukh under his wings till 2020, says he has all the makings of a world champion.
Deshmukh is a three-time gold medallist at the Olympiad. She has won several medals at the junior level, but the win against Humpy was a testament to her talent and mental toughness.
Deshmukh, who had entered the final by defeating former world champion Tan Zhongyi in the semifinal, received $50,000 as the prize money and a spot in the Candidates Chess.