Rising star Divya Deshmukh can prove Garry Kasparov wrong, follow Judit Polgar's footsteps; here's how

Divya Deshmukh has been the biggest talking point in Indian chess recently, with the 19-year-old charting a sensational journey to victory at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Georgia’s Batumi last month. Divya had entered the tournament as an International Master but left with the word ‘Grandmaster’ next to her name, acquiring the title without having to fulfill the three norms .

Along the way, she defeated three players ranked in the world top-10 including veteran GM Koneru Humpy in a historic all-Indian final.

The young star, who qualified for next year’s Women’s Candidates along with Humpy, faces a brand new challenge – that of competing in the ‘Open’ category at the upcoming FIDE Grand Swiss tournament.

Divya, after all, has received a wildcard entry into the ‘Open’ category along with Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina, and is part of a stacked field that also comprises reigning Classical world champion D Gukesh as well as Indian No 1 R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi.

What Kasparov had said about female chess players back in 1989

In the process, Divya has the opportunity to follow the legendary Judit Polgar’s footsteps in proving Russian chess icon Garry Kasparov’s controversial quote on female chess players wrong.

“Well, in the past, I have said that there is real chess and women’s chess. Some people don’t like to hear this, but chess does not fit women properly. It’s a fight, you know? A big fight. It’s not for women. Sorry. She’s helpless if she has men’s opposition,” Kasparov, counted among the greatest chess players of all time, had told the Playboy magazine in 1989.

“I think this is very simple logic. It’s the logic of a fighter, a professional fighter. Women are weaker fighters,” he added.

Polgar, of course, would force Kasparov to take back his comment with a trailblazing career in which the Hungarian GM became the only woman to break into the FIDE Classical top-10 in the ‘Open’ category and achieve an ELO rating above 2700.

‘Makes complete sense to compete in a stronger event’

Though Divya has a long way to go if she is to emulate Polgar’s rich legacy, GM Shyam Sundar Mohanraj, a chess coach who has worked with several Indian women players in the past, feels she certainly is on the right track at the moment.

“At this age, especially, she will of course be very ambitious and focus on reaching 2700, which is a dream for any player. She is close to 2500 now, so it makes complete sense to compete in a stronger event. She will be playing more GMs, and she can test her preparation and how determined she is to give a strong comeback,” Shyam Sundar told The Times of India.

“Even if she scores less than 50 per cent out of the possible 11 rounds, still it will be a good experience for her, regardless of the rating, whatever happens, minus 10, 30, whatever it is, it will be a much-needed and greater experience. At a young age, Judith Polgar started playing in the Open sections, and that is how she became strong in the way,” he added.

The FIDE Grand Swiss takes place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 3 to 15 September, with the top two players set to qualify for next year’s Candidates Tournament.