Humpy proved everyone wrong, battling through tiebreaks after a three-way tie for first place to win her first Women’s World Rapid title. She became the only second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to claim the world rapid crown this year
By Kamran Khan
Five years ago, Koneru Humpy achieved what she described as an “unexpected” victory. After taking a break from competitive chess to manage a difficult pregnancy, prenatal complications, and the challenges of motherhood, she made her return to tournaments at the 2018 Batumi Olympiad.
When she arrived in Moscow for the 2019 World Rapid and Blitz Championship, few believed she could contend for the title. Her longtime rival, Ju Wenjun, humorously questioned her decision to compete in rapid, a format she wasn’t known for excelling in.
However, Humpy proved everyone wrong, battling through tiebreaks after a three-way tie for first place to win her first Women’s World Rapid title. She became the only second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to claim the world rapid crown this year.
On Saturday, December 28, 2024, in New York, the 37-year-old Indian Grandmaster secured the title again—this time without the need for tiebreaks. China’s Ju Wenjun and Russia’s Kateryna Lagno finished as runners-up and third place, respectively. She is now tied with Ju as the only player to have won the Women’s World Rapid title twice. Just a step away, she finished as the runner-up in the rapid last year.
“In 2019, I was very ambitious, eager to win my first world title,” Humpy, ranked sixth in the world, recalled. “It’s not easy to become world champion at 37. I struggled a lot this year, so winning was a big surprise. I even finished last in a couple of tournaments, so mentally, I was in a very low state. At one point, I even questioned whether I deserved to keep playing or if it was time to retire. I wasn’t sure about competing in the World Rapid and Blitz in New York because of the time difference and jet lag. But I decided to give it a shot, and I’m happy I made that decision.”
Humpy described the victory as very special, giving her the boost she needed to keep fighting and focus on chess again. Her remarkable comeback in the tournament began with a loss in the first round, leaving her with a score of 2.5/4 at the end of Day 1. On Day 2, she won all four games, climbing to the joint lead with Ju and compatriot Harika Dronavalli. On the final day, she drew her games against Ju and Lagno but defeated Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar with Black in the last round to secure her first place with 8.5/11 points.
“I feel very happy, especially because I’ve won the title a second time,” Humpy said. “Last year when I was very close, I lost in the tiebreaks. After my first-round loss this time, I, in no way, was thinking about the title. Off the board, it was tough for me because I lacked sleep. I haven’t had proper rest since I arrived, therefore it wasn’t easy to play, but I’m glad I managed it. I was in the joint lead, so I expected a tough day with tiebreaks. But things went my way. I didn’t know I had won until the arbiter told me after I finished my game—it was a tense moment. The endgame was drawish, but Irene allowed my king to move freely, and my rook cut off White’s king.”
At 15, Humpy became India’s first female Grandmaster who has been a trailblazer for women’s chess in the country. “It’s a great time for India. We have Gukesh as world champion, and now I’ve won my second world title in the rapid event. This will motivate young people to take up chess professionally,” she said.
Her daughter, Ahana, is seven, and staying away could be a challenge, following it up, she had to say, “It’s possible because of the support of my husband and my parents, who look after Ahana when I travel. Having children gives you energy, but it also takes a lot of energy. Staying motivated and sharp as you get older is challenging. I believe success isn’t just about winning tournaments or medals—it’s also about managing your life well. I’m grateful for my family’s support, which allows me to balance everything,” she shared.
Since arriving in New York, Humpy hasn’t ventured out much. However, after her victory and the rest day on Sunday before the blitz event, she was looking forward to exploring. “My cousin lives nearby. I haven’t gone out since I got here, so tomorrow I’ll probably go outside,” she said.