India's Divya Deshmukh humbles higher-ranked Chinese Jiner Zhu at Chess Cup

Indian International Master Divya Deshmukh produced a remarkable performance to defeat second seed Jiner Zhu of China in the first game of the pre-quarterfinals at the FIDE World Women’s Chess Cup on Wednesday. The victory marks a significant leap forward for the young Indian star, who now requires only a draw in the return leg to advance to the quarterfinals.

Coming off the tournament’s first rest day, Divya looked refreshed and confident. Facing Zhu's Sicilian defense, she responded with creativity and precision, gradually asserting control in the center. Her strategic clarity allowed her to build a solid position, which she steadily improved through the middlegame.

🇮🇳 IM Divya Deshmukh wins Game 1 of Round 4 against 🇨🇳 GM Zhu Jiner.#FIDEWorldCup pic.twitter.com/JixDOkMZLX

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 16, 2025

Despite Zhu’s reputation for resilience and sharp counterplay, her attempt to seize the initiative just before the first time control backfired. Divya capitalised, transitioning into a favourable endgame featuring her queen and knight against Zhu’s queen and bishop. With her active pieces dominating the board, Divya left no room for error, converting her advantage smoothly into a crucial victory.

Meanwhile, India’s top-ranked woman Grandmaster, Koneru Humpy, engaged in a tense, hard-fought draw against former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, who now represents Switzerland. Humpy chose the Berlin defense with Black, and while Kosteniuk appeared to have a slight positional edge, the Indian veteran remained composed to secure the half-point.

Grandmaster D. Harika also played creatively against Kateryna Lagno, who is competing under the FIDE flag. Harika sacrificed a couple of pawns in return for the bishop pair, ensuring dynamic chances and sufficient compensation. The game eventually ended in a draw after a well-balanced struggle.

R Vaishali, the other Indian still in contention, played to a draw against Kazakhstan’s Meruert Kamalidenova. With neither player gaining a significant edge from the opening, the game saw a mass exchange of minor pieces, leading to a balanced endgame where peace was inevitable.

Among other top contenders, tournament favorite and top seed Tingjie Lei of China defeated Uzbekistan’s Umida Omanova in commanding fashion. Fellow Chinese players Zhongyi Tan and Yuxin Song also registered victories, overcoming Ukraine’s Yulia Osmak and Georgia’s Lela Javakhishvili, respectively.

As the tournament heads toward its final stages, the field has narrowed to eight Chinese and Indian players, each vying for one of the top three spots, which offer a place in the next Women's Candidates Tournament.

(With PTI inputs)