Gukesh and Deshmukh Shine Amidst Norway Chess Turmoil: A Day of Redemption for India’s Young Stars
Gukesh and Deshmukh Shine Bright at Norway Chess Amidst Ups and Downs
NEW DELHI: In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, Indian chess prodigies Dommaraju Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh turned the tide at the Norway Chess tournament this weekend, showcasing their talent against formidable opponents.
After a challenging Thursday where Gukesh faced a tough defeat against World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, the 20-year-old Grandmaster bounced back in style on Saturday. Celebrating his 20th birthday on Friday, Gukesh faced compatriot R Praggnanandhaa in a crucial Round 9 clash. Despite starting at the bottom of the leaderboard with just 3.5 points, Gukesh’s determination shone through as he secured his first classical win of the tournament, defeating Praggnanandhaa under the stunning panoramic roof of the Deichman Bjørvika library in Oslo.
The match was a testament to the enduring charm of classical chess. Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, launched a fierce kingside assault, sacrificing material to crack open Praggnanandhaa’s defenses. The critical moment came after a tense time scramble, where Gukesh’s active pieces and direct threats proved too much for his opponent. “What can I say, just a very complex game… luckily, the tricks kind of worked out for me,” Gukesh remarked after his victory, which propelled him to third place on the leaderboard, just 3.5 points behind tournament leader Alireza Firouzja.
Meanwhile, Divya Deshmukh also sought redemption after a tough outing before the rest day. The 20-year-old Grandmaster, who had previously let a winning position slip away, faced Zhu Jiner in an exhausting 84-move encounter. Playing with the black pieces, Divya displayed remarkable resilience, gradually improving her position and eventually converting a favorable endgame into a win. With this victory, she became the sole leader of the tournament with 8.5 points, setting the stage for an exciting rematch against Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun on Sunday.
In contrast, Magnus Carlsen faced another setback, suffering his third classical defeat of the tournament against Wesley So. The local hero now finds himself at the bottom of the table with 4.5 points, raising questions about his performance in this prestigious event. Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja maintained his lead in the open section, defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in an Armageddon tie-break.
On a brighter note, Indian chess star Koneru Humpy secured her first win of the tournament, triumphing over Women’s World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun in an Armageddon match. Anna Muzychuk also continued her strong performance, outclassing Bibisara Assaubayeva to maintain her position in the top ranks.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Gukesh and Deshmukh as they aim to solidify their standings and continue their impressive journeys in the world of chess.