Chess Prodigy Divya Deshmukh Wins FIDE World Junior Chess Championship Girls Title

Nagpur-based chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh recently made headlines after clinching the girls title at the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. However, her victory came with a unique challenge – transporting her oversized trophy back home.

The trophy, standing over four feet tall and weighing around three to four kgs, posed a logistical challenge for Divya. When asked about the difficulty of bringing the trophy back to Nagpur, she jokingly replied, “The trophy definitely was not the hardest part of playing at the event. But it was up there. It was a bit tough, but overall it was easy. The airline staff was very helpful.”

Despite the trophy transport ordeal, Divya’s performance at the championship was nothing short of impressive. The 18-year-old emerged victorious after maintaining a flawless record throughout the 11 rounds of the competition. WIM Mariam Mkrtchyan of Armenia gave her a tough fight but ultimately settled for second place.

Reflecting on her toughest match, Divya mentioned Ayan Allahverdiyeva as her most challenging opponent. She admitted to feeling the pressure of expectations due to her high rating but managed to stay focused on her game play and quality.

Looking ahead, Divya has her sights set on becoming a grandmaster, although she remains open to exploring other career options. As she awaits her Standard XII results, she faces the task of finding a suitable spot for her ornate trophy, joking that her trophy cabinet has run out of space.

With her recent victory and rising ranking among women players, Divya’s future in chess looks promising. As she continues to enjoy the process and explore her potential in the game, she remains a rising star in the world of chess.