Divya Deshmukh Triumphs Over Zhu Jiner in Women’s Chess World Cup

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.