Despite loss in FIDE Women’s World Cup final, Koneru Humpy is no pushover

Well, at 38, when many would seriously contemplate quitting the sport for different reasons, though age is no bar in chess, Humpy served yet another reminder that she means business by making it to the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup final before losing to a much younger opponent, Divya Deshmukh

Hyderabad: Koneru Humpy – the ageless wonder!

Well, at 38, when many would seriously contemplate quitting the sport for different reasons, though age is no bar in chess, Humpy served yet another reminder that she means business by making it to the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup final before losing to a much younger opponent, Divya Deshmukh.

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In a way, the historic win of Divya is also proof of India’s young chess talent ruling the chess world in the recent past. The dignified response from Humpy to the loss in the World Cup final is a reflection of the grace and humility this champion chess player has shown over the last three decades at the highest level.

Humpy’s World Cup final appearance, perhaps, is another emphatic statement from the two-time World rapid chess champion as she chases the ultimate dream of being the World champion.

That the Vijayawada-based Humpy came back so strongly after a two-year break between 2016-2018 to take care of her girl child Ahana shows the kind of class she has shown so consistently for close to three decades, ever since winning the World under-10 chess title in 1996.

Well, all this could not have been possible but for the great faith her father, Dronacharya Koneru Ashok, has had in her since her early days. Quitting a lucrative lecturer’s job, his single-minded mission was to see Humpy scale the summit in the world of chess.

And, the champion chess player, who, unlike many of her contemporaries, has been a quiet achiever with no real craving for media attention over the years, clearly justified the trust her father had in her.

Not for nothing did Humpy become the then-youngest woman player in 2002 to achieve the Grandmaster title at 15 years, one month and 27 days!

In chess, crossing the ELO rating of 2600 is considered to be a significant milestone, and Humpy achieved that way back in 2007, only to be the second one after the genius extraordinaire Judit Polgar.

For someone who for quite a long time was considered to be more at ease in the classical format, Humpy, the chief Manager in ONGC, showed her amazing skills to adapt to the rapid format winning the world title first in 2019 and then in 2024 – the second one being more special as she had to be away from her daughter!

Long back, Ashok, when asked why this name Hampi, he replied that it suggested ‘champion’. And, perhaps, he has seen the destiny written for Humpy to achieve in chess, which many of her contemporaries can only dream of.

By her own admission, Humpy is pleased with the way things are going and asserts that she is able to convert even slight advantages into winning positions consistently. “My calculations have improved vastly compared to the last two or three years,” she said.

By all means, Humpy’s latest feat is a truly inspirational story for any budding athlete. When she handled so much pressure at that age, beat exhaustion, but rekindled the passion every time there were a few lows, it is something which she seems to have mastered. And, she is grateful for the complete support of her family – parents, husband Dasari Anvesh and now her big fan Ahana.

So, the incredible journey continues, and Humpy is in no mood to be a pushover for sure!