Divya Deshmukh’s Miraculous Defense Saves Day for Indian Contingent at Candidates Tournament in Cyprus

Divya Deshmukh Saves the Day Amidst Turmoil at Candidates Chess Tournament

NEW DELHI: The atmosphere at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Paphos, Cyprus, was electric as Indian chess enthusiasts held their breath during Round 3 of the Candidates Tournament. While R Praggnanandhaa’s earlier triumph over Dutch No. 1 Anish Giri had set high expectations, the day quickly spiraled into chaos for the Indian contingent, only to be salvaged by a remarkable defensive performance from Divya Deshmukh.

Praggnanandhaa, riding high after his opening-round victory, faced off against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, a formidable opponent. However, in a surprising twist, the Chennai-born Grandmaster opted for the Queen’s Pawn opening instead of his signature King’s Pawn. This unexpected choice raised eyebrows, including those of veteran Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, who noted, “Praggnanandhaa is a very strong attacking player, and the King’s Pawn suits him better.”

The game took a turn for the worse when Praggnanandhaa, struggling to find his rhythm, succumbed to a series of tactical blows from Sindarov. By move 19, a critical mistake left Praggnanandhaa with no threats to mount, leading to his resignation by move 40. With this defeat, Sindarov joined Fabiano Caruana at the top of the leaderboard, leaving Praggnanandhaa to regroup for the upcoming rounds.

Meanwhile, the women’s section saw a much-needed spark of excitement after a series of draws. Divya Deshmukh faced off against Aleksandra Goryachkina, one of the tournament favorites. For much of the match, Divya found herself on the defensive, battling Goryachkina’s superior position and deep opening preparation.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, Goryachkina, known for her clinical finishing, faltered under time pressure. A shocking blunder on move 64 allowed Divya to escape what seemed like certain defeat. Thipsay remarked, “Divya succeeded in averting defeat. She keeps her chances alive with all three games drawn.” The match concluded after 81 grueling moves, marking a miraculous save for the young Indian player.

As the dust settles on this chaotic round, the leaderboard is beginning to take shape, with Caruana and Sindarov emerging as early frontrunners. For the Indian contingent, the focus now shifts to Round 4, where Praggnanandhaa will seek redemption against Matthias Blübaum, while Divya and Vaishali Rameshbabu aim to convert their draws into victories.

Round 4 Pairings – April 1, 2026:

• Open Section: Esipenko vs Giri, Wei Yi vs Nakamura, Sindarov vs Caruana, Blübaum vs Praggnanandhaa.
• Women’s Section: Muzychuk vs Lagno, Assaubayeva vs Tan Zhongyi, Divya vs Zhu Jiner, Vaishali vs Goryachkina.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the Indian players as they strive to reclaim their momentum in this prestigious chess showdown.