KOLKATA: Divya Deshmukh knows how to grab an opportunity with both hands. The 17-year-old Women’s Grandmaster, who was only a last-minute inclusion after India’s latest chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa’s sister WGM MR Vaishali pulled out, ended up claiming the women’s rapid title of Tata Steel Chess India tournament at the Bhasha Bhawan in the National Library of India campus on Saturday. A member of the Online Chess Olympiad team in 2020, Divya maintained her lead in all the three days and ended on top in a thriller.
A former national champion, Divya drew her game against GM Anna Ushenina after four consecutive victories on the trot in the first match of the day. Women’s World champion GM Ju Wenjun narrowed in for the top spot with a win over GM Nino Batsiashvili.
