‘Chess doesn’t fit women properly’: How Divya Deshmukh plans to defy Garry Kasparov’s 36-year-old remark | Chess News
NEW DELHI: In 1989, Garry Kasparov, then the undisputed king of world chess, told Playboy magazine: “Chess does not fit women properly. It’s a fight, you know? Women are weaker fighters.”A sweeping statement, of course. But then came Judit Polgár, who went on to become the only woman in chess history to have climbed past the 2700 rating 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 explain.By the twilight of her career, Kasparov conceded defeat on this front, 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 still casting a long shadow, a new teenager is daring to walk a path just as bold.19-year-old Divya Deshmukh, who is currently 2478-rated, will play in the Open section of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand after receiving a wildcard.In July, she stunned the chess world by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup, subsequently becoming a Grandmaster (GM) in one swing.Already qualified for the Women’s Candidates, the tournament that decides the challenger for the world championship, Divya had the option of not taking part in the Grand Swiss this year or staying only within the women’s circuit.
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 champion Divya Deshmukh (PTI Photo)
Instead, she chose to test herself in the Open Grand Swiss, where the strongest men and women in the world compete for just two seats in the Candidates.It is a bold choice indeed, with GM Shyam Sundar Mohanraj, a coach who has worked with the Indian female team several times in the last few years, describing it as a “logical decision”.Speaking to TimesofIndia.com, Shyam Sundar explained, “It is a very logical and practical decision. Two things, mainly, she has qualified for the candidates, which is the major goal for any player – it is a dream for any player. Number two, she also became GM in the process.” With those milestones achieved, the next frontier is clear: showing strength against the world’s best.“At this age, especially, she will of course be very ambitious and focus on reaching 2700, which is a dream for any player. She is close to 2500 now, so it makes complete sense to compete in a stronger event. She will be playing more GMs, and she can test her preparation and how determined she is to give a strong 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 less than 50% out of the possible 11 rounds, still it will be a good experience for her, regardless of the rating, whatever happens, minus 10, 30, whatever it is, it will be a much-needed and greater experience. At a young age, Judith Polgár started playing in the Open sections, and that is how she also became strong in the way.” 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 won’t be any pressure on her, she can play carefree chess, a very relaxed atmosphere because she is one of the underdogs… so there is absolutely no pressure, she can play ‘Bindaas’ and whenever a player is playing such ‘Bindaas’ and free chess, they will definitely play better because there is no tension in the back of the mind,” 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.
