Koneru Humpy Creates History, Becomes World Rapid Chess Champion for the Second Time

India’s Grandmaster Koneru Humpy etched her name in history once again by defeating Indonesia’s Irine Sukandar to claim her second World Rapid Chess Championship title. Humpy first won this prestigious title in 2019 in Georgia, becoming the first Indian woman chess player to do so. She is only the second woman after China’s Ju Wenjun to win the championship twice.

The 37-year-old secured a decisive victory with 8.5 points out of 11 rounds. Facing a must-win situation in the final round, Humpy delivered under pressure to clinch the title. In the men’s category, 18-year-old Russian Volodar Murzin emerged victorious, becoming the second-youngest FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion.

Humpy’s victory marks a proud conclusion to 2024 for Indian chess. Her previous championship win in Batumi, Georgia, in 2019 was followed by a silver medal at the 2023 tournament in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Apart from rapid chess, Humpy has demonstrated remarkable achievements in other formats. She won the silver medal at the 2022 Women’s World Blitz Championship and the 2024 Women’s Candidates Tournament. However, she missed the Budapest Olympiad due to personal reasons, where India secured six gold medals.

Humpy’s triumph is a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication to chess, solidifying her legacy in Indian chess history.

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