Indian teenager Divya stuns Vaishali in 26 moves, makes her best start to a Grand Prix

Indian teenager Divya Deshmukh has made a spectacular start to the fifth leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Pune. After two rounds, IM Divya shares the lead (2 points) with Chinese GM Zhu Jiner.

Divya stunned GM Vaishali R in the second round on Tuesday. The 19-year-old had won her first round against Bulgarian Nurgyul Salimova.

Against Vaishali, Divya dominated from the opening, and forced a resignation after just 26 moves. Divya played some brilliant moves; the one that stood out was a knight sacrifice in the 18th move after a blunderous bishop move by Vaishali. Divya played all the optimum moves thereafter, leaving Vaishali without an escape or any clear-cut counterattacks.

Divya will play black against India No. 1 Koneru Humpy in round three, to be played on April 16. Dronavalli Harika is the fourth Indian among 10 players in the 9-round Pune leg.

Divya finished sixth in the second leg in Shymkent last October and seventh in Nicosia in March. However, she only managed two wins combined in both legs. Humpy's second place in the third leg in Monaco in February, behind Aleksandra Goryachkina, was the best among Indians in the Grand Prix yet.

The Grand Prix is a series of six tournaments that began in Tbilisi, Georgia, last August. The overall standings of the Grand Prix will determine the two players who will compete in the Women's Candidates Tournament next year.