Sports Reporter :
INTERNATIONAL Master Divya Deshmukh
of Nagpur emerged champion of the Sharjah
Challengers 2024, the other day.
In the final round, Divya played out a
draw against IM Leya Garifullina to
emerge winner.
At the end of the ninth and final round,
Divya, who was seeded eighth in the competition, had a tie with Russian IM Leya
Garifullina and Iranian fifth seed Sina
Movahed. However, on the basis of
Buchholz tie-break score of 47,
Divya emerged champion
Leya had 45 while Sina had 41
Buchholz tie-break score.
Divya, who is a national
women’s champion collected seven
points.
According to reports, in the rook
and bishop vs rook endgame, Divya
got a couple of chances in the end to
push for a win. However, she decided not to take any unwarranted risk
in the final round.
A draw was enough for her to become
the champion and that’s what she did.
Divya, who is the reigning Asian
Continental Women’s champion, has
earned herself a spot in the Masters section
of the next edition.
In the nine-round competition, Divya
won five rounds and drew four.
Divya, who is rated at 2440, earned 16.4
international rating points from the competition.
Over 90 players from 38 countries including six Grandmasters participated in the
competition for the top honours.
Divya had a favourable start to the competition as she recorded two quick wins
over Akshat Sureka and Vedant Nagarkatte
both of India. Playing with black on the
third board, Divya defended well to draw
with Dhruva Thota.
In the next round, Divya took advantage
of playing with white to beat American IM
Farahat Ali in a 49 moves battle.
She then made the light work of Indian
IM Aradhya Garg with a quick 36-move win
to share the lead with 4.5 points in her kitty.
In the sixth round, Divya defended well
to hold second seeded Paraguay’s GM
Delgado Ramirez Neuris. The game lasted
20 moves.
It was in the seventh round when Divya
surged ahead when she beat lower ranked
Indian IM Viani Antonio Dcunha to secure
sole lead with six points.
In the penultimate round, Divya played a
defensive game and forced third seeded
Russian GM Vladimir Burmakin to split
point in 35 moves.
In the final round, Divya played drew
with Leya to claim the title.
GM Bardiya Daneshvar (IRI) drew against
GM Arjun Erigaisi to win 7th Sharjah
Masters 2024. GM Volodar Murzin, GM Sam
Shankland (USA) and GM Shamsiddin
Vokhidov (UZB) also scored the same 6.5/9
points each.
They were placed second to fourth
respectively. Arjun became the sole Indian
to make a top ten finish in the Masters. He
secured seventh place.