Divya Deshmukh emerges victorious in FIDE Women’s Grand Prix despite wedding reception interruption

PUNE: The sound of wedding bells almost drowned out the clinking of chess pieces at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix chess meet in Pune, but that didn’t stop Divya Deshmukh from claiming victory with the black pieces against Nurgyul Salimova.

The game was temporarily halted due to the noise coming from a nearby wedding reception, prompting Chief Arbiter Ivan Syrovy to pause play and apologize to the players. After a brief break, the match resumed and Divya managed to outplay her opponent, despite a slight inaccuracy in her play.

Divya, rated higher than Salimova, showcased her skills and strategic thinking as she secured a win in the endgame after 53 moves. The opening round of the tournament saw several decisive results, with Polina Shuvalova also winning with the black pieces.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Indian contingent, as D Harika suffered a loss to Zhu Jiner. The intense five and a half-hour battle between Munguntuul Batkhuyag and Salome Melia ended in favor of Batkhuyag, while K Humpy managed to secure a draw against R Vaishali.

Despite the challenges posed by the noisy surroundings, the players displayed their resilience and determination to excel in the tournament. As the competition heats up, chess enthusiasts can look forward to more exciting matches and strategic battles in the days to come.