Koneru Humpy: The Underrated Overachiever
SUBHAGATA BHATTACHARYA
5 JUL 2015
Koneru Humpy declared herself to the World at a youthful age of 12, she was not even a teenager when she turned into Asia’s youngest International Master and a couple of years later she became India‘s youngest Grandmaster. Sports Rediscovered profiles the Indian Chess wonder and GM Koneru Humpy.
Emergence of a talent beyond ordinary
Humpy was born on 31st March 1987 at a relatively unheard of town named Gudivada (25 Kms. from Vijaywada) in Andhra Pradesh. She was engrossed in Chess, because of her father who was a Chess player himself. At an early age of 5, she started to show astounding talents that was immediately spotted by her father and acknowledged she could be one of the finest with proper training. So, he began to train her and provide her with all the attention she needs.
Early years: fame and recognition
Young Koneru Humpy displayed her proficiency as a remarkable Chess player as soon she began and it was the 1995 under-8 Nationals in which she was noticed by the entire country as she won the tournament. She appeared to be practically relentless at those times pulverizing her opponents in various National and International competitions in the under-10, 12 and 14 age groups. Humpy accomplished her International Master title at the age of 12 years, very much a mountain she had climbed at that age.
The first woman Grand Master from India
In any case, her appetite for success just continued expanding with age.
Koneru Humpy achieved her third Grandmaster Norm at the Elkes Memorial Tournament at Budapest, Hungary. In the process, she also set the World Record for the youngest Grand Master at the age of 15 years 1 month and 29 days overcoming Judit Polgar’s record.
Humpy‘s improvement curve simply didn’t appear to take any plunges and had mixed displays in competitions, two gold medals at the Doha Asian Games of 2006, while around the same time she bowed out in the second round of the World Championships.
The year 2007 is likewise an uncommon highlight for India, not simply in light of the fact that India won the inaugural T20 World Cup, but for Humpy’s surprising ascent in the realm of chess, as she became the second woman to achieve 2600+ FIDE rating.
The title of the Grand Master, alongside the prestigious Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri, Humpy turned into a “symbol” for the women’s chess players and chess lovers in the nation.
Destined rivalry: Koneru Humpy versus Hou Yifan
Most of you reading this might be wondering, is it even possible to have a destined rival in Chess? Well, maybe it is possible or at least destiny has played a crucial role and connected these two amazing Chess prodigies.
So, the question is how are they rivals? For starters, Hou Yifan took away the title of the youngest Grand Master away from the Indian that too at the age of just 14 years and 6 months.
The Chinese is also the reason behind Koneru Humpy‘s disappointment to win the Women’s World Chess Championships twice. The first time was in 2008 where Yifan knocked out the Indian in the Semis and then in 2011 when she presented herself as the challenger only to go down losing three games and drawing another five. Koneru Humpy endured another misfortune in the last stage to Hou Yifan and finished runner-up in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2013-14.
In most games between the two, it was the Chinese who enjoyed the upper hand when we take a look at the past records and Humpy might want to change that sooner rather than later.
Koneru Humpy reached her career high, back in 2009 with a rating of 2623 and has a current rating of 2589, but her desire to win is still far from over. Humpy would be looking to regain the status that she once had, as an heir to the throne of Indian Great, Vishwanathan Anand.
Source: http://sportsrediscovered.com