UTC+08:00

Divya Deshmukh – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 1, 2026
English Opening A21

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 a5 4. Nf3 d6 5. a3 Bc5 6. e3 Nf6 7. d4 Nxd5 8. cxd5 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 0-0 12. h4? It doesn’t seem like a good idea, or at least makes little sense given White’s policy of Kingside development. The usual 12. Bd3 f5 13. Qc2 was the proper continuation.
12. ... f5 13. g3 Qe8 14. Bd3 Nd7 15. 0-0 h6 16. Ne1 Nf6 17. Ng2 Nxd5 18. Bc4 Be6 19. Re1 Qf7 20. Bd2 c6 21. Qb3 Kh7

22. a4? White is down material without any appreciable return for it. Alas for her! she cannot play 22. Bxd5? Bxd5 23. Qxb6?? because of 21. ... Ra6 trapping the Queen. White’s best was probably 22. Rxe6, although after 22. ... a4! (not 22. ... Qxe6? on account of 23. Qxb6 Nxb6 24. Bxe6 d5 25. h5 with a strong bind) 23. Rxh6+ gxh6 24. Qd3 Rae8 she has little or nothing — or anyway not enough — for the Exchange.
22. ... Bxd4 23. Re2 Be5 24. Rae1

24. ... Nf4! 25. gxf4 Bxc4 26. Qg3 Bf6 27. Re3 d5 28. Qh3 d4 29. Rg3 Qh5 30. b4 axb4 31. Bxb4 Rfe8 32. Rc1 Bd5 33. Ne1 Rxa4 34. Bd6 Kh8 35. Be5 Bxe5 36. fxe5 d3 0–1. For after 37. Nxd3 Rxh4 it’s all over.

Today 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) gave a telling demonstration of her strong potentialities. Photo: Yoav Nis (Eugene Nisenabum)/FIDE.