NewzVille Desk
India’s star chess player and one of the most outstanding competitors in women’s chess, Koneru Humpy, secured her second World Rapid Championship title, finishing the tournament with 8.5/11. She had won her first gold five years back in the 2019 edition held in Moscow.
Eighteen-year-old underdog Volodar Murzin delivered an outstanding performance in a fierce field made up of most of the strongest and seasoned players in the world.
Following a spectacular performance featuring seven victories, six draws, and no defeats, 18-year-old Volodar Murzin has claimed the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship.
He is now the second-youngest player to win the title, after Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s victory in 2021.
In a seven-way tie at the top at the start of the final, 11th round, Koneru stood out as the only player to score a victory in the womens section. Playing with the black pieces, she defeated Indonesia’s International Master Irine Kharisma Sukandar in a challenging endgame, claiming the coveted 2nd title in style.
Koneru’s victory adds another feather to the spectacular success of Indian chess in 2024, after the country won gold in the Chess Olympiad this summer in both the Open and the Women’s Competition, and D Gukesh won the title of FIDE World Champion in classical chess. at Singapore recently.
Koneru’s path to the top began quietly, with just 2.5 points out of four on day one. By the end of day two, she surged into shared first place alongside compatriot Harika Dronavalli and reigning Classical World Champion Ju Wenjun of China.
With just three rounds remaining, the final day of the Rapid was a scramble for top places.
In the last round, the leaderboard featured an unprecedented seven-way tie. Alongside Koneru – Ju Wenjun, Harika Dronavalli, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Irine Kharisma Sukandar, and Uzbekistan’s Afruza Khamdamova all held a chance at the title. Lagno, one of the pre-tournament favorites, had earlier dealt a critical blow to former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in round nine, while Khamdamova stunned Grandmaster Elisabeth Paehtz to join the leaders.
Amid expectations of tiebreaks, Koneru’s win in the final round rendered them unnecessary. Her 8.5 points secured clear first place, half a point ahead of a pack of six players who tied for second: Ju Wenjun, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Harika Dronavalli, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Afruza Khamdamova.
