Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh has confirmed her participation in the Open section of the upcoming FIDE Grand Swiss chess tournament, set to begin on September 3. This ambitious move by the 19-year-old Indian prodigy marks a significant step in her blossoming career.
Deshmukh Opts for Stronger Competition
Divya Deshmukh, who recently achieved a historic triumph at the FIDE Women’s World Cup, announced her decision via an Instagram story, stating, “So, the news I posted yesterday about was that I will be participating in the open Grand Swiss this year.” Her decision to play in the Open section, rather than the Women’s section, is a clear indication of her desire to test her skills against the highest level of competition. She recently demonstrated her fighting spirit by taking World No. 1 Hou Yifan to the quarterfinals in the Women’s Speed Chess Championship.
This choice is particularly notable as both Deshmukh and Russian player Aleksandra Goryachkina requested wildcards for the Open category, despite having already qualified for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. This means they won’t need to vie for a spot in the Candidates through the Grand Swiss, allowing them to focus purely on the competitive challenge of the Open field. This aligns with recent suggestions from leading chess commentator and International Master Tania Sachdev, who advocates for women chess players to compete more in Open tournaments to enhance their abilities, while also arguing against the abolition of women-specific titles.
Strong Indian Contingent in Open and Women’s Sections
The FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, which also serves as a qualifier for the World Chess Championship 2026 cycle, will feature a formidable contingent of Indian talent across both sections:
- Open Section: Divya Deshmukh will be joined by a star-studded lineup of Indian Grandmasters, including reigning World Champion D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and Nihal Sarin.
- Women’s Section: Representing India in the women’s category will be 2025 World Cup runner-up Koneru Humpy and R. Vaishali.
The FIDE Grand Swiss is an 11-round Swiss-system tournament held every two years, bringing together many of the world’s strongest chess players. The top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s Grand Swiss will secure berths in their respective Candidates Tournaments, which determine the challengers for the World Championship titles.
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