Starting as the 13th seat, Humpy scored nine points in all to match Tingjie and Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey
Koneru Humpy during the World Rapid Chess Championship title clash in Moscow yesterday. Pic/Twitter
Moscow: Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy claimed the World Women's Rapid Chess Championship title after drawing the Armageddon game against Lei Tingjie of China here. The Indian made a stunning comeback, winning the 12th and final round game against another Chinese Tang Zhongyi, to force the tie breaker against Tingjie.
"When I started my first game on Day Three, I did not imagine I would be at the top. My hope was to reach top three. I didn't expect to play the tie-break games," said Humpy in an interview with FIDE.
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"I lost the first game on time but came back in the second game. It was a gambling game, but I won. In the final game, I had a better position and it was a comfortable win." Starting as the 13th seat, Humpy scored nine points in all to match Tingjie and Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey.
Humpy had a good beginning to the event scoring 4.5 points in the first five rounds, and then a loss against Irina Bulmaga of Russia pulled her back a little. Needing a strong finish, Humpy won the last two rounds.
However, Humpy required a little luck as Tingjie had to lose to Atalik, which happened. The drama was still not over as Humpy lost the first tie-break game, and then won the second to reach the Armageddon.
Humpy drew black colour, which meant that a draw was enough for her to clinch the gold. Tingjie had to settle for the silver and bronze went to Atalik. Humpy got a winning position after a tactical stroke that netted her queen for a rook by move forty. Twenty-six moves later, Tingjie agreed to draw in a hopeless situation.
'Keep it up Amma'
N Chandrababu Naidu @ncbn
"Congratulations to Grandmaster @koneruhumpy on winning the 2019 World Rapid Chess Championship in Moscow. It is a deserving reward for your relentless hard work and unflinching determination. Keep it up Amma!"
Viswanathan Anand @vishy64theking
"Congratulations to @koneruhumpy! A great performance and World Champion of Rapid!"
Tania Sachdev @TaniaSachdev
"Go Humpy! World Rapid Champion!! Amazing fight. Tremendous chess. Unreal nerves."
Harikrishna @HariChess
Congratulations to @koneruhumpy on winning Women World Rapid Championship in Moscow. Phenomenal comeback in playoff. #rapidblitz #c24live #Chess
Abhijeet Gupta @iam_abhijeet
What a comeback by the great @koneruhumpy Super Happy and congratulations to the new world champion #worldchess# worldrapidandblitz
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