DIVYA WINS OPENING ROUND AT FIDE WOMEN’S GRAND PRIX

INTRODUCTION

The 2025 FIDE women’s grand prix was held on April 14 and was located in Pune, India. There was a standout performer in an 18 year old International master, Divya Deshmukh, who secured a comprehensive victory against IM Nurgyul Salimova from Bulgaria. This was not only a strong start for Deshmukh but also showed her performance growing in the International chess arena.

A PROMISING START ON THE HOME TURF 

Deshmukh was a wild card entrant in the tournament, and she faced Salimova in the first round. The two had faced each other previously two times in classical games, both the games ending in draws. But, in this game, Deshmukh broke the deadlock, putting on the show her strategic acumen and how she can handle the pressure. Despite a 41st move that was inaccurate that led to the extension of the game, she continued to maintain her advantage and finished the game in 53 moves. 

After she looked at her performance, she acknowledged that mistake but was also satisfied with the win and the overall outcome. The ability of Deshmukh to recover and adapt during different conditions shows her maturity and resilience, showcasing qualities that are essential for the highest levels of competitions. The 18 year old International master from Nagpur, showed confidence and precision in the game she played against Salimova.

Divya Deshmukh

ABOUT HER

A year ago, Divya won the Junior Girls World Championships. Since the World Championships, the Indian player has been pursuing new goals to achieve foe her career. She participated in the Chess festival which was held at Prague instead of the Junior Girls World Championship in the pursuit where she aimed for the Grandmaster title, which was taking place simultaneously in Petrova.

But things did not go her way at the Challengers tournament In Wijk aan Zee earlier in the year where she was able to score only 3 and a half out of 12. But through these tournaments, players learn and grow in their career. She had another opportunity to prove herself in a mixed field event. The Challenger tournament, with their mix of experienced players and stars on the rise, often turn to be much more interesting than the main tournaments. It was also true in Prague, where younger athletes benefited from the fact that the competition consisted of only nine this time around. Divya Deshmukh was the one and only female participant in the field.

Divya_Deshmukh_in_2025

CONTEXTUALIZING THE VICTORY

Divya Deshmukh victory is very noteworthy given the caliber and level of players that play in the Grand Prix. The competition featured a mixed of seasoned Grandmasters and young talents, making every match a test of abilities, skills and strategy. The victory over Salimova not only increases her confidence but also puts her in a position as a possible contender in the entire series.

It was a rollercoaster game where victory came and the fortunes were swinging multiple times. There was a presence of the legend of the game GM Vishwanathan Anand at the venue proved to be a inspiration for Divya Deshmukh, who became victorious from a difficult position. She also decide to take a more relaxed approach after she faced a tough loss in the previous round. The game saw momentum getting shifted multiple times with the opposition getting a strong winning chance. However, an inaccurate 54th move turned the tables in Divya’s favour, helping her to claim the first win kf the tournament. With this, allowing 10 participants have claimed at least one win in the event.

LOOKING AHEAD 

The next challenge for Divya Deshmukh in the competition will be against her fellow Indian GM Rameshbabu Vaishali. The class between the Indian players is expected to be a thrilling encounter, given as both players are familiar with each other play styles, their strategies and their shared national pride.

The FIDE women’s grand prix serves as a pivotal platform for chess players to earn points towards their Women’s Candidates Tournament, the stage where they could challenge for the World Championship Title. For Divya Deshmukh, if she performs consistently in this series could open up a way for her to ascend in the world rankings and get more opportunities and play against good opponents in the further stages in the career.

In the future going ahead, she aspires to be rising star in Indian chess with opportunities for becoming a Grandmaster and potentially a World Champion. She also wants to compete in the Candidates Tournament in the search for the World Championship. She has continued her chess education and training to improve her skills and develop her potential.

Divya Deshmukh 2024

CONCLUSION

The triumph of Divya Deshmukh in the opening round of the FIDE women’s Grand Prix is termed as a crucial milestone in her young but increasingly ascending career. Competing on her home turf, she showed not only that she was fully prepared and tactical insight but also demonstrated immense composure against a opponent of the caliber in IM Nurgyul Salimova. This win is more than a point on the scoreboard, it shows that she is ready to compete and become successful on the global level.

The victory is special in the context in which it had occurred. She was a wild card entrant, and she had to face off an opponent against whom she shared an even classical record. The match had many tense moments, the most notable being the 41st move which almost turned the tide, but the ability of hers to remain calm, recover and then convert her advantage into her win shows volumes about her maturity level as a player.

Further, her performance adds a dynamic presence into the Grand Prix, a series that had played a crucial role in shaping up a landscape in women’s chess. With every round having a contribution to the player’s standings and potentially qualifying for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, each and every game carries a significant weight. Divya Deshmukh being successful is not only an individual triumph but also a sign that she is a potential contender in this elite competition. 

As the tournament moves forward, all eyes will be on her future matches. If she maintains her form, she could become one of the standout stories of this FIDE Grand Prix, inspiring a new generation of Indian Chess enthusiasts.

Written by – Bhumit Malkan