‘Chess doesn’t fit women correctly’: How Divya Deshmukh plans to defy Garry Kasparov’s 36-year-old remark | Chess News

Divya Deshmukh and Garry Kasparov

NEW DELHI: In 1989, Garry Kasparov, then the undisputed king of world chess, informed Playboy journal: “Chess does not fit women properly. It’s a fight, you know? Women are weaker fighters.”A sweeping assertion, after all. But then got here Judit Polgár, who went on to develop into the one lady in chess historical past to have climbed previous the 2700 score barrier.“My father believed that the higher you put your goal, the higher you reach. That was the main reason me and my sisters were playing mostly against male competitors,” Polgár would clarify.By the twilight of her profession, Kasparov conceded defeat on this entrance, famously writing, “If to play like a girl meant anything in chess, it would mean relentless aggression.”

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Today, with Polgár’s legacy nonetheless casting a protracted shadow, a brand new teenager is daring to stroll a path simply as daring.19-year-old Divya Deshmukh, who’s presently 2478-rated, will play within the Open part of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand after receiving a wildcard.In July, she surprised the chess world by successful the FIDE Women’s World Cup, subsequently changing into a Grandmaster (GM) in a single swing.Already certified for the Women’s Candidates, the event that decides the challenger for the world championship, Divya had the choice of not participating within the Grand Swiss this yr or staying solely inside the women’s circuit.

FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 champion Divya Deshmukh (PTI Photo)

Instead, she selected to take a look at herself within the Open Grand Swiss, the place the strongest males and women on this planet compete for simply two seats within the Candidates.It is a daring alternative certainly, with GM Shyam Sundar Mohanraj, a coach who has labored with the Indian feminine staff a number of occasions in the previous few years, describing it as a “logical choice”.Speaking to TimesofIndia.com, Shyam Sundar defined, “It is a really logical and sensible choice. Two issues, primarily, she has certified for the candidates, which is the most important aim for any participant – it’s a dream for any participant. Number two, she additionally turned GM within the course of.” With those milestones achieved, the next frontier is clear: showing strength against the world’s best.“At this age, particularly, she is going to after all be very bold and give attention to reaching 2700, which is a dream for any participant. She is shut to 2500 now, so it makes full sense to compete in a stronger occasion. She can be enjoying extra GMs, and she will be able to take a look at her preparation and the way decided she is to give a powerful comeback,” Shyam Sundar added.The comparisons with Polgár are inevitable.

Garry Kasparov vs Judit Polgar (Linares Tournament, 1994)

She too entered Open tournaments at a young age, battling Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand and Ivanchuk at their peak. That experience, more than anything, sharpened her into a historic figure.Shyam Sundar draws the same parallel: “Even if she scores lower than 50% out of the attainable 11 rounds, nonetheless will probably be a very good expertise for her, whatever the score, no matter occurs, minus 10, 30, no matter it’s, will probably be a much-needed and better expertise. At a younger age, Judith Polgár began enjoying within the Open sections, and that’s how she additionally turned robust in the way in which.” For Divya, the Open Swiss will be brutally tough. She is likely to be seeded near the bottom of the field. But that could be liberating.ALSO READ: How India earned its 89th GM Rohith Krishna S: Parents’ sleepless nights, coding, and chess“There will not be any stress on her, she will be able to play carefree chess, a really relaxed ambiance as a result of she is among the underdogs… so there’s completely no stress, she will be able to play ‘Bindaas’ and every time a participant is enjoying such ‘Bindaas’ and free chess, they may positively play higher as a result of there is no such thing as a stress at the back of the thoughts,” the GM opined.If Divya’s ambition is to one day touch 2600, even 2700, then Samarkand may be the first true test of that dream.