The FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup resumed in Batumi, Georgia, on March 15, 2025, with India’s Divya Deshmukh making headlines after securing a remarkable victory against Chinese Grandmaster Zhu Jiner. This victory places Deshmukh on the brink of advancing to the quarter-finals.

At just 19 years old, Deshmukh entered the fourth round with a daunting 0-5 record against Zhu, including three defeats in the Classical format. Despite this challenging history, she approached the match with a fresh mindset, focusing on the game rather than her opponent’s reputation. “Actually, I expected it to be worse. It’s good to know that it’s just 5-1. I didn’t have any specific preparations. Since I had a bad score, I guess there was some sort of a mental block. But, I just tried to think that I’m playing against the pieces, so it doesn’t really matter who I’m against,” Deshmukh stated in an interview with FIDE after her stunning win in 49 moves.

The second Classical game of this round is scheduled for March 16, and if necessary, tie-breaks will occur on March 17. Deshmukh expressed her ambition to secure a decisive 2-0 victory against Zhu, who ranks sixth in the latest FIDE Women’s Classical ratings, a notable 12 places above her. “I guess it’s a normal game. I don’t think it’s anything special, but of course I have to give my best and see how it goes. It will be pretty great if I can score 2-0 right?” she added.

Other matches in the fourth round featured Zhu’s compatriots, including GM Lie Tingjie, Song Yuxin, and Tan Zhongyi, all of whom secured victories while playing as white. Meanwhile, fellow Indian players GM Koneru Humpy, GM Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali managed to draw their respective games.

As the tournament progresses, Deshmukh’s performance stands out as a testament to her resilience and determination, especially given her previous record against Zhu. With the next game looming, anticipation builds around her continued journey in the World Cup. The stakes are high, and Deshmukh is poised to make her mark on this prestigious stage.

The Texas Rangers have awarded starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi a $100,000 All-Star bonus, even though he was not selected for this year’s All-Star Game. Eovaldi, who has had a remarkable first half of the season, posted a stellar 1.58 ERA along with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings. The decision to grant him the bonus highlights the team’s recognition of his contributions, despite the oversight in his All-Star selection.

Teammate Jacob deGrom, who was chosen as an All-Star, also received a $100,000 bonus. This demonstrates the Rangers’ commitment to rewarding their players for outstanding performances. Eovaldi’s absence from the All-Star roster came after he missed a month of play due to a triceps injury. As a result, he fell just short of the 97 innings required to qualify for individual statistical rankings.

In his 15th major league season, Eovaldi achieved significant milestones, including leading the majors in ERA before his injury. He recently improved his record to 7-3 after winning his third consecutive game against the Houston Astros. In that outing, he allowed only five hits and one run while striking out eight batters over 7 2/3 innings.

Eovaldi’s performance this season has been impressive. He ranks second among MLB starting pitchers in WHIP with 0.85 and in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 6.71. Batters facing Eovaldi have struggled, hitting just .194 with a .237 on-base percentage and a .286 slugging percentage, resulting in a .523 OPS against him.

Looking ahead, Eovaldi is set to make his first start of the second half of the season at home on July 16, 2023, against Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers at Globe Life Field. His return will be highly anticipated as the Rangers continue their push for a strong season.

England’s women’s football team braces for a challenging quarterfinal match against a revitalized Sweden in the Euro 2025 tournament. The clash is set to take place at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, following Sweden’s impressive performance, including a 4-1 victory over Germany in the group stages. England’s captain, Leah Williamson, who previously led the team to victory against Sweden in the semifinals of Euro 2022, understands the significant challenge posed by their opponents.

At a media briefing held at the luxurious Dolder Grand hotel near Zurich, Williamson acknowledged Sweden’s capabilities. “I do think Sweden deserve a little bit more recognition,” she stated, highlighting the team’s recent successes, including their bronze medal win at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Since their last meeting, both teams have played to draws, emphasizing the competitive nature of the matchup.

Sweden’s preparations differ significantly from England’s. While the Lionesses enjoy opulent accommodations, the Swedish squad has opted for more modest facilities at a fitness center in Cham, approximately 30 kilometers north of Zurich. The simplicity of their setup allows quick access to training pitches, though it has not been without its challenges. Assistant coach Magnus Wilkman humorously noted the disruptions of nearby construction, indicating that the team’s environment is far from perfect.

As the tournament progresses, Sweden remains unbeaten, achieving three consecutive wins at Euro 2025. Under the guidance of head coach Peter Gerhardsson, the squad features a mix of experienced players and emerging talent. Notably, they possess an average of 68 caps per player, significantly higher than England’s average of 41.3. Key players like Stina Blackstenius and Linda Sembrant continue to provide leadership as younger players, such as 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg, make their mark on the field.

Williamson and her teammates are acutely aware of Sweden’s strengths, particularly their physicality and counter-attacking style. “Definitely, it’s one of their main threats,” Williamson noted regarding Sweden’s aerial capabilities. This understanding stems from England’s analysis of Sweden’s recent matches, including their successful tactics that led to a high number of crosses during the tournament.

In addition to their physical prowess, Sweden’s tactical discipline makes them a formidable opponent. Williamson emphasized the collective nature of Sweden’s play, stating, “They work so well together… everybody plays their role.” This cohesion has contributed to their reputation as a well-organized and hard-working team.

The anticipation surrounding the match is palpable, especially considering the passionate support from Swedish fans, who have quickly sold out their ticket allocation. Rytting Kaneryd, a key player for Sweden, expressed surprise at the lack of recognition for their team among tournament favorites. “We’ve always been a bit of an underdog,” she remarked, suggesting that teams may be underestimating Sweden’s potential.

As both teams prepare for this critical encounter, the stakes are high. England, with a mix of new and experienced players, aims to build on their history while navigating the challenges presented by their opponents. “It didn’t go well for us [at Euro 2022] because they scored four goals, but that is history,” Gerhardsson stated, emphasizing the need for a fresh approach in this upcoming match.

The quarterfinal promises to be a high-stakes battle, with both teams eager to assert their dominance on the European stage. As the countdown to the match continues, expectations rise, and fans eagerly await what could be a defining moment in Euro 2025.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has criticized Karun Nair for his crucial dismissal during India’s recent match against England at Lord’s. Shastri believes this moment significantly impacted India’s chances of securing a win in the ongoing five-match series. Nair’s dismissal, coupled with Rishabh Pant‘s run out, are seen as pivotal moments that opened the door for England to claim victory.

In the second innings, Nair, batting at number three, was trapped LBW by England’s Brydon Carse when he was on 14 runs. This dismissal occurred on Day 4 and followed a disappointing first innings where Pant was run out for 74 runs just before lunch on Day 2. Shastri remarked that Pant’s dismissal was a turning point, stating on The ICC Review, “Ben Stokes…simply outstanding presence of mind to hit at the right end and pull it off on the stroke of lunch.” He emphasized the missed opportunity for India to gain a lead, which could have shifted the momentum in their favor.

During the match, India found themselves at a commanding 283 for 3 at one stage. However, Stokes’ brilliance in the field triggered a collapse, with India losing their next seven wickets for only 104 runs. Shastri pointed out that Nair’s dismissal was also a significant lapse in concentration. “At 40 for 1, I thought that was a huge lapse in concentration from Karun Nair to leave a straight ball, a nothing ball…,” he remarked.

The performance of the lower-order batsmen, including Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, demonstrated that once the ball softened, batting conditions improved. Shastri noted, “When Siraj batted, when Bumrah batted, when Jadeja was batting, once the ball was 40 overs old, they hardly put a foot wrong.” He expressed disappointment that the top-order batsmen could not maintain their composure, which could have led to a different outcome for India.

Despite India’s struggles, the series remains closely contested, with both teams trading victories. Shastri reflected on the series, suggesting that had luck been on India’s side, they could have been leading 3-0 instead of trailing 1-2. He compared this match to a previous Test at Lord’s in 2021, where India had emerged victorious under similar circumstances.

With two matches remaining in the series, Shastri remains optimistic about India’s chances. “A fascinating series and two more to go. Anything can happen,” he said. He added that the upcoming match at The Oval promises to be a thrilling encounter, with India looking to bounce back and regain momentum in the series.

As the matches unfold, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if India can turn the tide in their favor.