India’s chess scene shone even brighter on Sunday as Koneru Humpy secured her second world title in rapid chess by defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar. With this triumph at the 2024 World Rapid Chess Championship, Humpy joined China’s Ju Wenjun as the only players to win the title multiple times. The victory also added to India’s exceptional chess achievements this year, following D Gukesh’s classical format World Championship win against Ding Liren in Singapore.
Humpy’s Stellar Performance
The 37-year-old chess prodigy accumulated 8.5 points from 11 rounds to clinch the top spot. Humpy, who had previously won the title in 2019 in Georgia, expressed her elation after the victory.
“I’m very excited and happy. I expected it to be a tough day with some sort of tie-break, but when the arbitrator told me I had won, it was a tense and joyful moment,” Humpy shared.
A Historic Achievement in Rapid Chess
Humpy has consistently excelled in rapid chess over the years. Her career highlights in this format include:
- A bronze medal at the 2012 Rapid Championship in Moscow.
- A silver medal in 2023 at the Samarkand championship.
Her latest win further cements her position as a global chess icon and underscores her ability to perform at the highest level despite the challenges of maintaining form with age.
Overcoming Challenges with Family Support
Humpy credited her family for their unwavering support in helping her balance her professional and personal life.
“It was possible because of my family’s support. My husband and parents look after my daughter when I travel. It’s not easy to become a World Champion at 37. Staying motivated and sharp at this age is difficult, but I’m glad I made it,” she said.
India’s Dominance in Chess in 2024
Humpy’s victory is one of many milestones for Indian chess this year. Earlier, D Gukesh became the classical World Chess Champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren, marking a historic moment for India in the sport.
In the women’s championship, D Harika also performed exceptionally well, finishing among the top scorers with 8 points. Divya Deshmukh and Padmini Rout also delivered commendable performances, earning 7 and 6.5 points, respectively.
Final Standings (Women’s Category):
- Koneru Humpy (India) – 8.5 points
2-7. Ju Wenjun (China), Kateryna Lagno (FIDE), Zhongyi Tan (China), D Harika (India), Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland), Afruja Khadamova (Uzbekistan) – 8 points each
Other Indian Performances:
- Divya Deshmukh: 7 points
- Padmini Rout: 6.5 points
- R Vaishali: 5.5 points
- Vantika Agarwal, Priyanka Nuttaki, Sahiti Varshini: 5 points each
In the Men’s Category:
Russia’s Volodar Murzin claimed the championship with 10 points, making him the second-youngest FIDE World Rapid Champion at 18 years old. He followed in the footsteps of Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who won the title at 17.
Final Standings (Men’s Category):
- Volodar Murzin (FID): 10 points
2-3. Alexander Grishchuk (FID), Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID): 9.5 points each
Indian Performances:
- Arjun Erigaisi: 9 points
- R Praggnanandhaa: 8.5 points
- Aravindh Chithambaram: 8 points
- V Pranav: 7.5 points
Conclusion
Koneru Humpy’s victory and other remarkable performances by Indian players in the 2024 World Rapid Chess Championship highlight the country’s growing dominance in the chess world. With her perseverance and skill, Humpy has proven that age is no barrier to achieving greatness in chess, solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s legends.
