The year 2024 continues to shine for India in the realm of chess. Grandmaster Koneru Humpy achieved a remarkable victory in New York, earning the title of FIDE Women’s World Rapid Champion. This marks her second triumph in this tournament, having previously won in 2019. Although Humpy did not commence the competition on a strong note, suffering an initial defeat, she demonstrated remarkable resilience on Day 2, orchestrating a comeback.

By Day 3, she had ascended to the pinnacle of the tournament. Upon securing her victory, she beamed with joy.

In a statement on FIDE's live broadcast following her win, Koneru Humpy expressed, "I’m very happy and excited because this is my second world Rapid title. I also won in 2019."

She further remarked, "In my career, whenever I find myself in a challenging position, feeling as though I am faltering, something miraculous occurs, allowing me to rebound. This inspires me to continue competing." 

Earlier, D Gukesh Dommaraju had claimed the title of World Chess Champion by defeating China's Ding Liren.

I express my gratitude to my parents

Prior to the concluding round, seven competitors were tied for the lead: Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi from China, Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli from India, Kateryna Lagno from Russia, Afruza Khamdamova from Uzbekistan, and Irine Kharisma Sukandar from Indonesia.

In Round 11, Koneru Humpy faced Irine, playing with the black pieces. She successfully applied pressure on her Indonesian opponent. Wenjun secured a draw against Bibisara Assaubayeva, while both Harika and Tan also ended their match in a draw.

Khamdamova and Lagno similarly concluded their game with a draw, resulting in Humpy claiming the overall victory.

Following her triumph in the tournament, Koneru Humpy expressed her gratitude to her parents for their unwavering support throughout the years.

“It may be too late in India for many to be awake, but my family will be watching. I want to extend my thanks to my parents for their incredible support and to my husband. Balancing a professional career in India after marriage and having a child is challenging. However, he has been a great source of support, and my parents have taken care of my daughter during my travels. All of these factors contributed to my success,” she remarked.

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