Divya, take a bow

DIVYA Deshmukh — a Grandmaster now after becoming the first Indian to win the Women’s World Cup — is 19. Her opponent, Koneru Humpy — the first Indian woman to become a Grandmaster — is twice her age. The final in Georgia was a battle of generations. More significantly, it was a contest between two Indians who made it to the final from a field of 107 players. It’s a coming of age moment for women’s chess in the country. The Indian presence in the highest echelons of the chess world is firmly etched. Divya’s achievement is remarkable. An International Master who was ranked 15th at the start of the tournament, the girl from Nagpur defeated five higher-rated opponents. The inspirational new face of women’s chess not only secured the $50,000 first prize, but also automatically earned the Grandmaster title — the highest in chess.