Gukesh, Divya bag double gold at the European Club Cup
D. Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh claimed double gold medals and guided their respective teams — SuperChess and Cercle d’echecs de Monte Carlo — to the titles at the 40th European Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece.
It was a timely performance from both Indian grandmasters ahead of the upcoming FIDE Chess World Cup in Goa, particularly for Gukesh, who has struggled for consistency this year.
Entering the final day, SuperChess needed only a draw to clinch the crown but went one better, defeating Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai 3.5–2.5 to seal the championship.
Gukesh remained unbeaten through the event, scoring four points from five games with three wins and two draws. His standout result came in round six, when he defeated compatriot GM Arjun Erigaisi in a decisive top-board clash. The performance earned him the individual gold on board one with an impressive 2927 rating performance.
Following his double gold, Gukesh gained 10.8 Elo points to climb to ninth place in the live world rankings.
In the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh also struck gold on board two, registering a remarkable 2591 performance rating. Her team went through the tournament unbeaten and sealed the title with a final-round 2–2 draw against second-seeded Turkish Airlines.
Published on Oct 27, 2025