Divya to spearhead Indian Challenge in junior group
    Date :10-Jul-2020


Divya Deshmukhs_1 &n 
 
Sports Reporter :
 
FIDE Online Chess Olympiad begins July 22
 
 
IT WILL be another feather in Nagpur’s chess prodigy Woman International Master Divya Deshmukh’s cap as the youngster will be spearheading Indian Challenge in junior group in the 2020 Online Olympiad that will be held from July 22 to August 30. The Online Olympiad is a national team event in which all federations affiliated to International Chess Federation (FIDE) will participate. Divya is the first choice player in the Junior Girls Category while Vantika Agarwal is the reserve player.
 
The city lass is part of the Indian contingent that includes former world champion and chess legend Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. After much drama in the All India Chess Federation (AICF) that ended with resignation of chief selector Grandmaster RB Ramesh, the Indian team was finalised. Ramesh on Tuesday resigned alleging “interference” from warring officials of rival factions. Ramesh, a former Commonwealth chess champion, said he found it difficult to continue as the selection panel head due to the constant interference in team selection issues and confusion created by federation officials. For the Olympiad, each team will consist of six players, in a mixed format with a minimum quota of three female players and two junior players.
 
The teams may have up to six reserves, plus a team captain. The time control for the event will be 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move. The event will comprise two main stages: divisions stage and play-offs stage, from the Round of 16 to the final. In the mixed event, for pairing purposes the ranking will be established in accordance with the final standings of the last ‘Gaprindashvili Cup’, which combined the results in the open and women’s sections at the Batumi Chess Olympiad 2018. Indian Team Men: Viswanathan Anand, Vidit Gujrathi. Reserves: P Harikrishna, Aravindh Chithambaram. Women: K Humpy, D Harika. Reserves: Bhakti Kulkarni, R Vaishali. Junior Boys: Nihal Sarin. Reserve: R Praggnanandhaa. Junior Girls: Divya Deshmukh. Reserve: Vantika Agarwal.