Koneru Humpy wins historic Fast World Championship to cap off extraordinary yr for Indian chess

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy capped off what was a shocking yr for Indian chess by profitable the fast world title in New York Metropolis on Sunday. Humpy, who was tied for the primary spot with China’s Wenjun Ju and compatriot Harika Dronavalli on Friday, defeated Indonesia’s Irine Sukandar whereas taking part in with black items on Day 3 to clinch the title that she had beforehand received in 2019 in Georgia.

The 37-year-old GM had drawn her different video games on Saturday, the ultimate day of the Ladies’s Fast Champion, towards Ju and Russian GM Kateryna Lagno. Ju and Harika have been amongst six gamers who completed tied for the second spot with a complete of 8 factors, the latter drawing all three video games on Saturday. Among the many different Indians in motion within the ladies’s part, Divya Deshmukh completed with seven factors.

Together with her triumph, Humpy turns into the primary Indian and solely the second participant after Ju to win the ladies’s fast world title greater than as soon as. Her feat is the newest in a collection of extraordinary outcomes for Indian chess gamers this yr — from D Gukesh profitable the Candidates in April and defeating Ding Liren within the World Championship earlier this month to India profitable gold within the ‘Open’ and ‘Ladies’ sections within the Olympiad in September.

Humpy later added that her victory got here as a shock, however was much-needed after her poor run all year long.

“I’m very excited and joyful. Actually, I anticipated it to be a really robust day, like some kind of tie-break. However once I completed the sport, the arbitrator instructed me (about profitable), and it was a tense second for me,” mentioned Humpy, who started with black items, after her victory.

“So, that is fairly surprising as a result of the entire yr I’ve been struggling and I had very unhealthy tournaments the place I simply ended up in final place. So, this got here as a shock,” she added.

👏 Congratulations to 🇮🇳 Humpy Koneru, the 2024 FIDE Ladies’s World Fast Champion! 🏆#RapidBlitz #WomenInChess pic.twitter.com/CCg3nrtZAV

— Worldwide Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 28, 2024

Humpy credited her household for her success, and added that her achievement together with these by the likes of Gukesh will solely encourage extra children to play chess and even take it up as a profession.

“I believe it was attainable due to the assist from my household. My husband and my mother and father…they assist me so much. My mother and father take care of my daughter once I journey,” mentioned Humpy, who had turn into the second feminine participant after Susan Polgar to realize an ELO ranking of 2600 in 2006.

“It’s not straightforward to turn into a World Champion at 37. It’s fairly troublesome once you become older to maintain that motivation and keep sharp when required. I’m glad that I made it.

“I believe it’s excessive time for India. We even have Gukesh as world champion and now I acquired the second world title within the fast occasion. So, I believe this may encourage a variety of children to take up chess professionally,” she famous.

Murzin wins as Russians dominate ‘Open’ Fast Championship

The ‘Open’ part of the Fast Championship witnessed Russians occupy the highest three spots with Volodar Murzin, Alexander Grischuk and Ian Nepomniachtchi ending first, second and third respectively.

Murzin collected two wins and as many attracts on the ultimate day of the Fast Championship – defeating Polish Grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda and India’s R Praggnanandhaa whereas holding Grischuk and Armenia’s Karen Grigoryan to a draw.

His victory over Praggnanandhaa proved notably decisive because the 19-year-old Indian GM was main within the penultimate spherical, solely to give up the benefit with a blunder.

Murzin surged into the only lead together with his victory over Pragg within the penultimate spherical and completed with 10 factors after holding Grigoryan to a draw to finish the match because the undisputed champion. His compatriots Grischuk and Nepomniachtchi completed with 9.5 factors every.

👏 Congratulations to Volodar Murzin, the 2024 FIDE World Fast Champion! 🏆

📹 Closing moments from the ultimate spherical. #RapidBlitz pic.twitter.com/HNCDEbeE71

— Worldwide Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 29, 2024

India’s Arjun Erigaisi started the ultimate day of the Fast occasion with a defeat towards Grischuk however bounced again instantly after with a victory over Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

The World No 4, nevertheless, was held to a draw by American GM Leinier Dominguez Perez and Iranian-French GM Alireza Firouzja, lacking out on an Indian sweep within the Fast Championship after Humpy’s victory within the ladies’s part.

Praggnanandhaa completed marginally behind Erigaisi, and was amongst 12 gamers ending stage on 8.5 factors.