Divya Deshmukh expresses desire to challenge Magnus Carlsen after winning Women's Chess World Cup: 'I will learn a lot'

India’s latest chess sensation, Divya Deshmukh, has expressed a desire to play a match against five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, who has been the world No.1 in the sport since July 2011. Magnus won his first World Chess Championship in 2013, beating defending champion Viswanathan Anand of India in Chennai. Since then, he has gone on to clinch every major trophy in individual chess, including clinching the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship multiple times and recently won the inaugural Chess Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

The 19-year-old Divya, who hails from Nagpur, has been witnessing a rapid rise in the world of chess in her own right. Last year, she helped the Indian women’s team win its first gold medal at the Olympiad and late last month, she defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy to become the first Indian to win a FIDE Women's Chess World Cup .

More from Chess

Magnus Carlsen described in one word by fellow Grandmasters, his answer will surprise you What is the 'Idiot Test' that helped Carlsen prepare for World Championship battles? Russian GM Dubov explains

Also Read | Divya Deshmukh exclusive: ‘I was five when I started chess, used to sleep in my classes’    

Seeded 15th in the tournament, the then International Master Divya was one of the underdogs of the tournament, but she scripted an incredible run, beating multiple Grandmasters on her way to the title, as he also clinched the Grandmaster title without completing all norms.

Divya Deshmukh wishes to play against Carlsen

In an exclusive conversation with Dainik Jagran, Divya Deshmukh has shared that she wishes to play against some of the best players in the world, including Carlsen, as it will benefit her game hugely.

“If I get a chance to play, I have to play with world number one chess player Magnus Carlsen. He has been a world champion and will learn a lot from playing against him,” she said.

She also said that focussing on her strengths and not on the stature of her opponents helped her win the Women’s Chess World Cup.

“Talking about the tournament, all the players who participated in it were senior to me. I had faced an experienced player in the first round. Experience in such tournaments is the work. The final was going on, everyone was in tension, but I was just trying to focus on myself,” Divya said.

Reflecting on how she began her chess career, Divya revealed playing her first match against her father. “I have been playing chess since I was five years old. As far as I remember, I played my first move against my father, but I had to face defeat in this match. After that, I grew up slowly and today I am at this point.”