Meet Koneru Humpy, Player Set For World Candidates Chess Championship

The world of chess has been witnessing a remarkable revolution, and at the forefront of this transformation stands India. With a rich history of chess masters like Viswanathan Anand paving the way, India's interest in chess has surged, particularly during the pandemic-induced lockdowns when online chess tournaments gained prominence. According to chess.com, India has experienced a staggering 400% growth in overall users since 2019, with the number of Indian grandmasters soaring from 55 to an impressive 84.

As of January 1, 2024, India's prowess in chess was solidified as five Indian players secured their positions in the prestigious FIDE World Candidates Chess Championship 2024. Among them, R. Praggnanandhaa, D. Gukesh, and Vidit Gujrathi claimed spots in the Open category, while Koneru Humpy and R. Vaishali earned coveted positions in the Women's Candidates tournament.

Koneru Humpy is an Indian chess player and an awardee of the Padmashree and Arjuna awards.

Who Is Koneru Humpy?

Women's world rapid chess champion Koneru Humpy was nominated for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by the All India Chess Federation (AICF). She was previously ranked number three in the world, according to the latest rankings issued by FIDE. 

Humpy now has a global rating of  2554 and will be playing in the Women Candidates in Canada. She made a comeback after a two-year interlude to win the FIA Women’s Grand Prix held in Skolkovo, Russia. She had taken a break to spend quality time with her newly-born daughter, Ahana.

• Koneru Humpy is an Indian chess player and women’s world rapid chess champion. Among all her rewards, in 2002, Humpy became the youngest woman ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster at the age of 15 years.
• Koneru Humpy made history by winning the silver medal at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championships in 2022. She became the first Indian woman to medal at this prestigious tournament. With an impressive score of 12.5 points, Koneru finished just half a point behind the gold medal winner, Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhstan. Koneru secured the silver medal by beating China’s Zhongyi Tan.
• She also won three gold medals at the World Youth Chess Championship in 1997. She also won the British Women's Championship in 2000 and 2002.
• Another impressive major tournament performance came at the 8th Gibraltar Chess Festival in 2011. Koneru finished half a point behind a group of leaders that included several 2700-rated GMs like Michael Adams, Gata Kamsky, Francisco Vallejo Pons, and Etienne Bacrot.
• Humpy also followed in world champion Judith Polgar’s footsteps as a 20-year-old, when she became only the second female player to cross 2600 on the rating list.
• She is from Andhra Pradesh and was also a part of the Indian squad that won the Online Chess Olympiad in 2020. Along with it, she has qualified for the International Chess Federation's (FIDE) Women’s Candidates event next year. 
• Humpy is already a recipient of the Padmashree and Arjuna Awards.
• "AICF has nominated Koneru Humpy for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Vidit S. Gujrathi, MR. Lalith Babu, Adhiban Bhaskarani, SP Sethuraman, Padmini Rout, and Bhakti Kulkarni have been recommended for the Arjuna Award and Abhijit Kunte for the Major Dhyan Chand Award," a source told ANI.