GM Dhopade, IM Deshmukh hail Divya’s coronation

 

 

GRANDMASTER Swapnil Dhopade and Nagpur’s first International Master Anup Deshmukh hailed Divya Deshmukh for becoming the world champion and Grandmaster on Monday. Divya was coronated as the new women’s world chess champion and Grandmaster after she won the second tie-break against compatriot Koneru Humpy in the Women’s World Cup final at Batumi in Georgia. Lauding the achievement, Dhopade, who was Divya’s coach during the World Cup held in Chennai, said it was a proud moment for the entire country and Vidarbha that Divya emerged champion of the world. “She is very talented and hardworking.

 

I have seen her when I was the women’s team’s coach at the chess Olympiad held in Chennai in 2022,” said Amravati lad Dhopade who is presently working with Central Railways, Nagpur. “Winning World Cup as well as a Grandmaster title in the same tournament is a big achievement. She has really worked hard during her formative years which are now bearing fruits,” said Dhopade. IM Deshmukh too was full of praise of her ‘opponent’ Divya. “We have played against each other long back when she was too young. She was brilliant.

 

The best thing of Divya is that she is a very fast learner. She picks new strategies very fast,” said Deshmukh. Apart from the hardwork put in by Divya’s parents, Anup Deshmukh credited Nagpur District Chess Association (NDFCA) for giving Divya a chance to play chess in her formative years. “NDCA should also be credited for what Divya has achieved. They have organised tournaments in big numbers which helped all of getting match practise. Vinod Trivedi, Adv Bade, Manoj Itkelwar, KK Barat, Dilip Pagay, late Umesh Panbude, Bhushan Shriwas and several others have provided the platform to players like Divya, GM Raunak Sadhwani and GM Sankalp Gupta. “They all should be feeling proud today,” said IM Deshmukh.