Indian women's chess Koneru Humpy won the World Rapid Chess title for the second time

On Sunday, Indian women's chess player Koneru Humpy defeated Indonesia's Irin Kharisma Sukandar in Round-11 in New York to win the FIDE World Rapid Championship 2024 title. She finished the tournament with 8.5 points out of 11. This is the second time she has won this title. Earlier, she won the first title in the 2019 edition in Moscow.

After the victory, Koneru Humpy said, it is not easy to become a world champion at the age of 37. When you get older, it is very difficult to maintain motivation and stay sharp when needed. I am glad that I did it.

She said I am very happy to win this title for the second time. However, I did not expect it at all, as I lost my first-round game. I never thought that I would be able to finish the tournament as the world champion. This victory is very special. When I am at my lowest level, I feel that it inspired me to fight and work on chess again.

India's number one female chess player Koneru Humpy is the second player, after China's Ju Wenjun, to have won this title more than once, but she is the first Indian female chess player. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Volodar Murzin of Russia created history when he became the second-youngest player to clinch the Open Rapid title.

The victory of Koneru adds another feather to the already spectacular success of Indian chess in 2024. Gold medals came in both the Open and Women's competitions in the Chess Olympiad this summer. Then D Gukesh became the World Champion in Classical Chess.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Koneru Humpy after the victory of Koneru Humpy. In the message, he said, your perseverance and talent inspire millions. All the more historic as this is your second World Rapid Championship title, he said. She has become the only Indian woman to achieve this incredible feat.