Koneru Humpy Wins Second World Rapid Chess Championship: Defeats Indonesia’s Irine Sukandar with 8.5 Points from 11 Games

Koneru Humpy Clinches Her Second World Rapid Chess Championship Title

India’s Koneru Humpy has secured her second World Rapid Chess Championship title. The tournament, held in New York, saw Humpy defeating Indonesia’s Irine Sukandar in the final match.

Humpy’s First Title Win in 2019

Previously, Humpy had won the championship in 2019, hosted in Georgia. She is the second player, after China’s Ju Wenjun, to win the title more than once. The 37-year-old finished the tournament with an impressive score of 8.5 points out of 11 games.

India’s First Female Grandmaster

Humpy was the first Indian woman to win the National Boys’ Chess Championship and to become a Grandmaster. She is also the second woman in history to cross the 2600 ELO rating mark. Her talent was recognized early by her father, Ashok Koneru, who himself was a chess player.

A Father’s Dedication to His Daughter’s Dream

Ashok Koneru identified Humpy’s potential when she was just five years old. To support her dream, he left his job as a professor and dedicated himself to training her. By the ages of six and seven, Humpy had already won state championships and went on to become the national champion in the under-12, 14, and 16 categories.

India’s Stellar Chess Performances in 2024

India’s chess players have had a remarkable year. On December 12, D Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in the World Chess Championship final, becoming the youngest player in the world to win the title. Previously, the record was held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who won at 22 years old in 1985.

India’s Historic Double Gold at the Chess Olympiad

In September, India achieved historic victories in both the Open and Women’s categories at the Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary. For the first time in the Olympiad’s 97-year history, India secured first place in both categories. The men’s team defeated Slovenia 3.5-0.5 in the 11th round, while the women’s team triumphed over Azerbaijan with the same margin.

Russia’s Volodar Murzin Wins Men’s Title

Russia’s 18-year-old Volodar Murzin claimed the men’s title. Murzin is the second-youngest player to win the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, following Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who won at the age of 17.