Divya Dominates Tan to Enter Candidates Tournament
Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh defeats Tan Zhongyi to qualify for the Candidates Tournament, marking a major milestone in her rising career.
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Divya Dominates Tan to Enter Candidates Tournament
In a thrilling semifinal clash at the FIDE Women’s World Cup, Indian chess sensation Divya Deshmukh produced a remarkable performance to defeat China’s Tan Zhongyi and secure her place in the 2025 Candidates Tournament. The 18-year-old displayed calmness, precision, and tactical brilliance to seal her biggest career achievement so far.
Divya Outplays Former World Champion
The match against Tan Zhongyi, a former Women’s World Champion and seasoned competitor, was expected to be a tough battle. However, Divya showed exceptional control right from the opening game. Her confident moves, deep preparation, and fearless strategy gave her the upper hand early on. She capitalized on Tan's small inaccuracies and never let go of the lead. In the second game, she maintained composure and secured a draw, which was enough to win the match without tiebreaks.
Making History for Indian Women in Chess
This win takes Divya into the prestigious Candidates Tournament, the final qualifier for the Women’s World Championship title match. With this, she joins the ranks of Indian greats like Koneru Humpy and Dronavalli Harika, becoming only the third Indian woman to reach this stage.
Throughout the World Cup, Divya impressed fans and experts alike with her fearless play and mature decision-making. She defeated several strong opponents on her path to the semifinal and proved she belongs among the elite players in women’s chess.
Her entry into the Candidates Tournament is not just a personal milestone, but also a proud moment for Indian chess. It highlights the growing strength of young Indian talent on the global stage.
The Candidates Tournament, scheduled for early 2025, will bring together the top eight female players from around the world. Divya’s journey has already become a source of inspiration for young chess players across India.
As she now shifts focus to the next big challenge, her semifinal triumph stands as a reminder of her potential and the bright future ahead.
