NAGPUR: Divya Deshmukh hadn't even been born when Hoang Thanh Trang became Asian women's chess champion and participated in three world championships.
On Thursday, 17-year-old International Master (IM) and reigning Asian champion Divya sent her experienced counterpart and Vietnamese-born Hungarian Grandmaster (GM) Hoang packing from the FIDE World Cup at Baku, Azerbaijan.
On the fifth day of the World Cup, Divya attacked from the word go while utilizing her opening advantage with the white pieces. This helped Nagpur's only IM among women outclass 43-year-old GM Hoang in 53 moves in the second game to clinch the second round match 1.5-0.5. A day earlier, the two players had drawn their opening game.
With this win, Divya has made it to the third round of the best 16 women masters in the world.
In a bid to make attacking moves, the 2400 Elo Divya started with the Queen Pawn opening while the 2402 rated Hoang opted for the Dutch defence. While the clash remained equal till the mid-game, Divya brought five of her pawns in the attacking line as a confused Hoang blundered while moving her knight back.
Thereafter, Divya created some space while making accurate moves and won an extra pawn on the 42nd turn with a double knight attack. Within the next four moves, Divya laid a trap on Hoang's queen and in that process became three pawns up. In the 53rd move, Hoang was left with no option but to resign as Divya eased into the pre-quarterfinals in style.
"The game was complex but almost one-sided," an elated Divya told TOI. She said, "Hoang tried to put up tough resistance, but I had a constant advantage. Since I created proper space for my pieces the advantage remained constant. A blunder in the midgame from my opponent helped me gain further control of the proceedings."
Divya's third round opponent will be finalized on Friday after the Tie Break game of the second essay.
