Koneru Humpy ensured that Indian chess players ended the year on a high by winning the world rapid championship in New York, even as Arjun Erigaisi’s chances of qualifying for the Candidates through the FIDE Circuit ended following a disappointing final day. It was Humpy’s second world rapid title after 2019. She finished runner-up in 2023.
Humpy won the event, dubbed the Wall Street Gambit in dramatic fashion, by clinching the 11th and last round game. Seven players, including Humpy and India’s Dronavalli Harika, were tied on 7.5 points heading into the final game. While the other six played out draws, Humpy defeated Indonesia’s Irene Kharisma Sukandar with black pieces. That made her the sole player with 8.5 points. Harika and six others finished on eight points. She finished sixth on tie-break score.
It was a special success for Humpy. For long the flag-bearer of women’s chess in India and the first woman from the country to become a Grandmaster, the 37-year-old mother of one did not participate in the Olympiad in Budapest, where India’s men and women won gold. Winning this rapid title was a big redemption for her. It was an addition to the success stories scripted by players from the country in 2024, of which D Gukesh’s world championship win is the biggest one.
“I’m very excited. I was expecting it to be a very tough day, like a tie-breaker or something,” Humpy told the FIDE YouTube channel. “I came to know about it only when the arbiter told me. It was quite a tense moment. It seemed my game was headed for a draw. But my opponent allowed my king to come out which gave me a good pawn structure.”
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Humpy had lost her first round match to Amina Karibekova of Kazakhstan with white pieces. She kept getting better and was equal on points with the leaders after eight rounds. She clinched the issue by winning all three games on the final day. In fact, she won her last four games.
“Off the board, it was difficult for me because of the time difference. I literally didn’t sleep after coming here. It was not easy to play without much rest, but I’m happy that I managed to do it. It’s hard to compare this with 2019. That was my first title and it was very special. This win actually came as a surprise because I didn’t have a great year,” said Humpy.
Arjun loses the plot on final day
It was a disappointing ending in the open section for Arjun. He started the day tied on points with the leader after nine rounds and was in third spot on tie-break score. He suffered a defeat against Alexander Grischuk of Russia in the 10th round, won the next and could only manage draws in the last two to finish on nine points. This made him fifth. Russian teenager Volodar Murzin won the title with 10 points.
Arjun had to win this to secure a Candidates berth. He seemed to be on course, before the final-day meltdown. The 21-year-old can still make it to the eight-player event through other channels. R Praggnanandhaa was the only other Indian in top 20 at 17th. The blitz championship to be played over two days will begin after a break on Sunday.
Also Read: Arjun Erigaisi close to securing Candidates spot amid Magnus Carlsen’s ‘Jeans-gate’