Hailing from Nagpur, Divya clinched the title in Batumi, Georgia, by defeating veteran player Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tie-breaker of the all-Indian final held on Monday
Divya Deshmukh. File pic
The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday passed a resolution congratulating 19-year-old chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh for becoming the youngest winner of the Women's Chess World Cup.
The resolution was introduced during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and other ministers in attendance, according to news agency PTI.
Hailing from Nagpur, Divya clinched the title in Batumi, Georgia, by defeating veteran player Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tie-breaker of the all-Indian final held on Monday.
CM Fadnavis on Monday announced the Maharashtra government will felicitate the newly crowned Grandmaster on her stellar achievement.
"It is a moment of great joy that Nagpur and Maharashtra girl Divya Deshmukh has won the Women's World Cup and earned the Grandmaster title as well. She is the youngest chess player to win the prestigious international title," he said, reported news agency PTI.
In a statement on Monday, Fadnavis said Divya Deshmukh has inscribed the state's name in golden letters on the international chessboard.
It was a matter of immense pride that both players in the World Cup final were Indians, he added, while also congratulating Humpy.
Vishy Anand hails Divya Deshmukh
India’s moves on the chessboard continue to script a story that the game’s young achievers can narrate to their grandkids as tales of valour in mental combat. On Monday, teenager Divya Deshmukh, 19, added another chapter to this with her World Cup win, outwitting the seasoned Koneru Humpy in a tie-breaker in the final at Batumi, Georgia, to emerge as the new queen of Indian chess.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand believes Divya’s win has not only helped the women’s game share the limelight with the men, led by world champion D Gukesh, but has also added to the growing stature of women’s chess in India, championed by Humpy’s success over the years and the Olympiad gold last year.
"The world has noticed and considers India as one of the leading chess countries. I think it’s broadly accepted now. In fact, by many measures, we are the strongest. In the men’s game, I can say that we have top players and are one of the top teams, but we are one of the youngest teams as well. In the women’s game, I think now India is starting to challenge [top-ranked] China, though China still has a stronger women’s team than us. The women’s world champion is Chinese [Ju Wenjun], so there’s a very interesting rivalry that could come out of this," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
