Exclusive: ‘I took inspiration from Milkha and Mary Kom movie songs’ – Divya Deshmukh | Chess News

**EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this picture launched by FIDE, India’s chess participant Divya Deshmukh in the course of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 ultimate match tiebreaks towards compatriot Koneru Humpy, in Batumi, Georgia. (FIDE/Andrei Anosov through PTI Photo)(PTI07_28_2025_000348B)

Divya Deshmukh displayed outstanding starvation and tenacity to change into India’s first girl chess World Cup champion. The 19-yr-outdated will attain Nagpur on Wednesday night time, the place a grand welcome is deliberate for her. Speaking completely with TOI from Batumi airport in Georgia, Divya talked at size and shared her ideas on the way it feels to be a Grandmaster, how she turned issues round in her favour and the favorite costume she wore throughout all her tiebreak video games to script historical past. Excerpts from the interplay…Has it sunk in but?Yet to sink in. It’s nonetheless tough to imagine that yesterday (Monday) was my final night time as an International Master.The $50,000 prize cash have to be the largest thus far in your profession. What do you intend to do with it?I believe that is my greatest prize cash from a match. I don’t have any plans proper now.What adjustments for Divya Deshmukh now — as an individual and as a participant?I don’t assume something adjustments for me as an individual or as a participant. Definitely, it’s an accomplishment that I’ll without end cherish, however I believe it’s hopefully only a stepping stone. Also, I believe the strain to change into a Grandmaster. is off. That’s an excellent factor a participant. As an individual, it adjustments nothing.Do GMs get extra respect from compatriots in addition to different gamers?I don’t know. I assume I’ll discover out now.Which was the very best praise you acquired — from an Indian and a foreigner?I don’t know. I’m but to undergo all my messages. I acquired a number of them. Once I can undergo them, I can let you understand which was the very best one.How will you retain your focus within the coming months?My focus will certainly be on chess. I’ll be enjoying in Uzbekistan in September in Grand Swiss.How do you loosen up or unwind earlier than, throughout and after occasions? What do you plan to do now after this massive achievement?I often loosen up or unwind by listening to songs, getting some sleep, consuming, watching one thing and simply resting. Chess is kind of exhausting, so I take all the remainder that I can. I don’t have any particular plans proper now. I’m a bit sleep-disadvantaged… I would like sleep.Do you assume chess is the largest occurring sport in India after cricket? Do you’re feeling unhealthy that chess gamers don’t get as a lot consideration as cricketers?I’m hoping that someday it turns into the subsequent massive factor. I’m not positive how massive it’s proper now, however I’m hoping that my victory contributes in a small method to the general growth of chess. Also, in the previous couple of years, it has been booming in India, so I hope it continues the identical manner. Chess gamers don’t get as a lot consideration as cricketers. I don’t assume it’s even comparable.Do you observe every other sport? Who is your favorite sportsperson?I do observe different sports activities. Not religiously, however I attempt to observe them each time I can. Lately, I’ve been watching a little bit of soccer and tennis. I don’t have a favorite sportsperson, however on this match, I used to be impressed by Milkha Singh as a result of I used to be listening to the songs from his movie and additionally Mary Kom.

Are you assured travelling by your self, or do you continue to want your mother and father with you?I’m positively assured sufficient to do it. I like having my mother and father with me as a result of it takes all of the stress off me to maintain all the opposite issues, and I simply should deal with chess.How many nations have you ever travelled to thus far? Which is your favorite and why?I haven’t counted what number of nations I’ve travelled to. I have to make a listing now. I’ll purchase a map and then put a pin in all of the nations I’m going to. My favorite is Greece. I don’t know why, however I believe that I need to go there once more. It’s very lovely with superb meals. I’ve been there three or 4 instances, and I need to go there once more. During tournaments, I’m so engrossed in chess that I don’t get time to go to vacationer spots.Any latest movie you may have watched?I’m not a movie individual, so I don’t assume that I’ve watched any films just lately.How do you select the garments you put on? Where do you rank your self on a scale of 1-5 in style sense?I simply put on what I really feel good in, and typically, I get superstitious about it. So this tiebreaker costume (pink printed kurta and beige pants) was positively the superstitious one. I gained all my tiebreakers sporting the identical. I additionally gained all of the video games I performed in it. I don’t need to fee myself. I identical to to put on good garments. Who doesn’t!