Doha: Indian chess stalwart Koneru Humpy suffered a massive heartbreak in her bid for a third world rapid title, finishing with a bronze in the women’s section of the FIDE World Rapid Championships after being cruelly done in by the tie-break rule, here on Sunday.
Humpy, the winner of the world rapid title in 2019 and 2024, tied for the top spot with China’s Zhu Jiner and Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina at 8.5 points, after the 11th and final round.
However, as per the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) tie-breaker rules to rank players with the same score — namely Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, and Average Rapid Rating of the Opponents — Humpy fell behind Zhu and Goryachkina to settle for the third spot after coming so close to clinching her third world rapid title.
Humpy enjoyed a stellar run in Doha, right up until the final round. She was part of a three-way lead in a field of 141 players and was set to face her compatriot, 18-year-old Savitha Shri B in the last match.
Soon after the round began, everything seemed to align perfectly for Humpy. Her two closest rivals, Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina, drew their games, meaning Humpy knew exactly what was required. A win against Savitha would secure the championship.
Against Savitha, Humpy reached an ideal position to convert for victory: a bishop endgame with an extra queenside pawn ready for promotion. She was practically winning and it seemed only a matter of time before the defending champion would be crowned once more.
Then came a questionable bishop move from Humpy, allowing Savitha to claw her way back and defend into a draw. It was heartbreak for Humpy, who had let a direct chance slip away. Yet she still finished tied for first with Zhu and Goryachkina and began mentally preparing for the playoffs that would decide the champion.
Here, Humpy faced another blow, a bigger heartbreak this time from a rather questionable FIDE tiebreak regulation. The rules allowed only two players tied at the top to compete for the title, not three. Interestingly, had Humpy been in the same situation in the Open section, she would have been permitted to contest the playoffs, as those rules allow all players tied for first to fight for the championship.
Humpy had to settle for a bronze medal.
Nevertheless, a two-time World Rapid Champion, two-time bronze medallist in the same format and a silver in World Blitzs, the 38-year-old is clearly one of the best in the world in shorter formats.
It is her extraordinary longevity that makes Humpy so special. She has been at the helm of Indian women’s chess for over two decades. In 2002, at just 15 years old, Humpy became the first Indian woman to earn the Grandmaster title and the youngest female at the time.
Her achievements extend far beyond personal accolades. Ask Abhijeet Kunte and RB Ramesh, two credible voices in the Indian chess circuit, and they explain the value of someone like Humpy and her achievements.
