Divya Misses Key Move Against Vaishali in Women’s Candidates Chess Tournament

Divya Deshmukh Misses Key Move in Thrilling Clash Against Vaishali in Women’s Candidates Tournament

NAGPUR: In a nail-biting encounter at the Women’s Candidates chess tournament in Cyprus on Monday, Indian Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh found herself on the brink of victory against compatriot Vaishali R. However, a critical oversight in the final moments of the game led to a missed opportunity that ultimately resulted in a draw.

With just four seconds left on the clock, Divya executed a brilliant move, capturing Vaishali’s rook with Rxb7. This move shifted the momentum in her favor, especially after Vaishali’s 34th knight move had tilted the computer evaluation from a slight advantage for Divya (0.15) to a more substantial lead (2.47). Yet, the excitement peaked when Divya overlooked a potential queen exchange on her 37th turn, allowing Vaishali to equalize.

“I had seen Vaishali’s queen exchange in advance (40…Qxh3!), but simply missed the winning alternative,” Divya reflected after the match. The game ultimately ended in a draw after both players reached a stalemate in a rook and five pawns endgame.

This match was the highlight of the day, as the majority of the other games in the tournament ended in draws. In the Open section, R Praggnanandhaa, another rising star from India, faced a tough challenge against higher-ranked Chinese GM Wei Yi. Despite having control over the clock and an extra pawn, Praggnanandhaa could not convert his advantage and settled for a draw after 46 moves.

The tournament has seen a series of cautious plays, with four consecutive draws in the women’s section, mirroring the trend of the day. Earlier, former women’s champion Tan Zhongyi of China opted for Petrov’s Defence, resulting in a 32-move draw against Ukraine’s GM Anna Muzychuk, a repeat of their 2017 World Championship match.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Divya and Vaishali, both of whom are eager to capitalize on their next opportunities. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, chess enthusiasts are in for an exciting showdown in the coming rounds.