Nagpur's Divya Deshmukh Wins World Chess Rapid Team Bronze Nagpur’s Divya Deshmukh secured a bronze medal for her team in the FIDE World Rapid Team Championships, which concluded in Hong Kong on Friday. The 21-year-old Grandmaster, representing the Hexamind Chess Team, played a pivotal role in the team’s third-place finish. The Hexamind squad, comprising Alireza Firouzja, Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Volodar Murzin, Vidit Gujrathi, and Kateryna Lagno, outperformed their rivals in the 12th and final round, defeating Birdie and Friends 3.5-2.5 to secure 18 points. This placed them alongside the eventual champions, Dragon Chilling, led by Ding Liren of China, and Arjun Erigaisi’s Team MGD1. The tie-break score of 611.5 determined Hexamind’s third-place finish, with Divya contributing significantly to the team’s success. Divya, who played on the sixth board, participated in seven of the 12 games, earning 4.5 points. Her performance was critical in key rounds, including the ninth and 10th matches, where her team secured victories against the eventual champions, Dragon Chilling. In the 10th round, she drew a solid 71-draw against Chinese Grandmaster Lei Tingjie, helping Hexamind dominate the match 4-2. Her efforts were complemented by the heroics of her 19-year-old Russian teammate, Volodar Murzin, whose unbeaten run was instrumental in clinching the team bronze. The tournament’s final day saw Divya hold off strong opponents, including D Harika and Lei Tingjie, while her team’s victory in the ninth round marked a turning point. Aronian’s decisive win against Wei Yi on the second board further bolstered Hexamind’s position, ensuring their top-tier standing. Divya’s ability to maintain composure under pressure highlighted her growing reputation as a top-tier player.#nagpur #divya_deshmukh #levon_aronian #hexamind_chess_team #volodar_murzin
