Latest news with #AlapinSicilianDefence
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Divya Deshmukh Becomes 1st Teenager To Qualify For Candidates In 34 Years
Last Updated: Divya Deshmukh made history as the first Indian to qualify for the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 finals, securing her spot in the 2026 Candidates tournament. Rising Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh has made history as the first Indian to qualify for the finals of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. This achievement also ensures her place in the Candidates tournament scheduled for 2026 as the 19-year-old Indian became the first teenager to make the Candidates in 34 years. Divya faced China's Tan Zhongyi, an experienced opponent, and was considered an underdog. Despite this, Divya secured a remarkable victory in the semi-final, bringing her just one win away from becoming the World Cup champion in chess. The format for these matches typically involves two games, with each player switching the colour of their pieces. If both games end in a draw, tie breakers determine the winner. The first game between Divya and Tan Zhongyi resulted in a draw, making the second game crucial as it could eliminate a player or lead to additional rounds if drawn. The second game was filled with twists and turns, but Divya ultimately triumphed, advancing to the final with a score of 1.5-0.5. She employed an aggressive and unpredictable Alapin Sicilian Defence to gain the upper hand in a fluctuating game, eventually converting her chances with clinical precision. Divya's journey to the final has been remarkable. In earlier rounds, she eliminated the second seed, Zhu Jiner of China, before defeating her more experienced compatriot and India's No. 2, Harika Dronavalli, in the quarterfinals. Adding to the excitement, Divya might face fellow Indian chess player Koneru Humpy for the title. Humpy's semi-final against another Chinese player, Lei Tingje, ended in a draw, with no winners in either game. The outcome of Humpy's tie will be decided by tiebreaks on Thursday, July 24. If Humpy wins, it will secure two Indians' entry into the Candidates and set up an all-Indian final in the World Cup. view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 07:28 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Divya Deshmukh creates history, storms into FIDE Women's World Cup final
India's teenage chess sensation Divya Deshmukh continued her dream run at the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 as she knocked out the former World Champion China's Tan Zhongyi on Wednesday, July 23 to reach the final. With the win, Deshmukh became the first Indian to reach the summit clash in the elite tournament. The 19-year-old stunned the World No.4 to record the biggest win of her career and reach the final. She defeated Zhongyi in the second leg of their semi-final by white pieces to to win the tie 1.5-0.5 after drawing the first leg with black applied a wild Alapin Sicilian Defence game to turn the tide her in a game that ebbed and flowed both ways. Deshmukh's magical run so far The 19-year-old has shown tremendous form in the ongoing tournament. She had defeated second seed China's Zhu Jiner in the fourth round, before knocking out compatriot Harika Dronavalli in the quarterfinals. Harika had pushed the quarterfinal clash into tie-breaks after playing two draws in the Classical leg. However, Deshmukh was too good for Harika in the end. Deshmukh will take on the winner of the second semifinal played between top seed China's Lei Tingjie and India No. 1 Koneru Humpy. The 19-year-old's result on Wednesday means that India could have two spots at the prestigious Candidate tournament. Even if Humpy can make it to the final of the tournament, then she will also be assured of a place in the Candidate tournament. Even if she loses the final, the India No.1 will get another shot to seal her spot in the World Championship challenger FIDE Women's World Cup is an important event in the World Championship cycle as it offers three qualifying spots for the Candidates. The Women's Grand Prix Series 2024-25 and the Grand Swiss will provide two spots each, while the last is reserved for the highest-placed player in the FIDE Women's Events 2025-26 series. Whoever wins the Candidates, will have the chance to challenge for the World Champion. - Ends
