Atreyo Mukhopadhyay
Stavanger is a city in south-west Norway. Internet search shows it is known as the ‘oil capital’ of the country. For two weeks from the end of this month, this will be the most happening place in the world of 64 squares. The event called Norway Chess will be played from May 26 to June 6 and the field in the open section is as strong as it has ever been.
Overshadowed by Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh and others in that half of the show, the women’s competition is held for the second time, even though this annual tournament dates back to 2013. The six-player, double round-robin format, a mandatory ‘armageddon’ tie-breaker for all games drawn after the normal time control, a different points system and equal prize money — the playing conditions are the same in the open and women’s categories.
There are familiar Indian faces in the mix. World No. 5 Koneru Humpy and No. 16 R Vaishali are almost a generation apart, but regulars at the top level. The 38-year-old has been doing it for nearly 25 years. Turning 24 on June 21, Vaishali is receiving invitations from elite women’s competitions after a stellar 2023. Both were in Stavanger last year. Vaishali finished fourth and Humpy fifth.
“Humpy is an experienced player and it’s commendable that she has maintained her position in the rankings,” GM Sandipan Chanda told RevSportz. “Only an exceptional performer can do this for so many years fighting with youngsters. She became a GM at 15 and is one of the six women who crossed 2600 in Elo ratings. Humpy was really strong even before her mid 20s. What we see now is a reflection of that strength. The foundation keeps her going.”
Next few years crucial for Vaishali: Chanda
The 41-year-old Chanda, who played with Humpy at her prime, works with Vaishali. Both are associated with the Anand WestBridge Chess Academy (WACA) in Chennai. The player is finding her feet at this level after becoming the third and latest Indian woman to become a GM two years ago. “I always found her very talented since we started working together in late 2022. The next year was great for her and the coming two-three years are crucial,” said Chanda.
Fourth in the Candidates and part of the gold-winning Olympiad team in 2024, Vaishali finished 12th in the final standings of the Fide Women’s Grand Prix played over six legs. One player could participate in a maximum of three. Humpy finished fourth in overall standings, Divya Deshmukh seventh and D Harika 11th. In the last leg in Austria this month, Vaishali settled for fourth. Not spectacular in the big league, but by no means out of sorts.
“She is in a stage where she is stabilising,” felt Chanda. “She has had flat periods in the past, followed by good outings. There was a big jump in 2023. It’s not surprising to see her trying to work her way through against the top-rated players. How she responds to this in the next few years is important. It’s an interesting time in her career. We have to see how she improves and when she peaks. She has the ability to work hard,” noted the GM from Kolkata.
The Stavanger challenge is formidable. Humpy is rated third and Vaishali fifth in the field of six, featuring five-time world champion and world No. 2 Ju Wenjun of China, No.3 Lei Tingji also of China and No.8 Anna Muzychuk. The Ukrainian topped the standings in the Grand Prix. Sarasadat Khademalsharieh of Iranian origin, who represents Spain, is the other contender ranked 24th.
Vaishali has been testing herself against many of these players. Considering her ranking and those of her opponents, she is the underdog. After skipping the Olympiad due to personal reasons, Humpy has made a strong comeback. Winner of the fifth leg of the Grand Prix in Pune, she should enjoy this opportunity to lock horns with the Chinese pair that fought the world championship last month.