‘Earlier, no one cared about any chess player’s achievements’: Koneru Humpy

Koneru Humpy, who became India’s first female Grandmaster at just 15 in 2002 and is a two-time World Rapid Chess champion, believes world champion D Gukesh should not take added pressure from the extra attention and expectations at the FIDE World Cup in Goa (Nov  1 to 27), but instead look at it positively as players didn’t get this recognition till 10 years ago.

Gukesh, the top seed and favourite at the biennial tournament by virtue of being the world champion, was held by Nogerbek Kazybek of Kazakhstan in his first game. Humpy, 38, who lost the FIDE Women’s World Cup final to Divya Deshmukh in July, feels Gukesh, who is half her age, will grow and learn from his experiences as he has great maturity. “I think we should take [the extra expectations] in a positive way because, nowadays whatever today’s chess players are achieving, is being acknowledged by everyone, right from  corporate houses to  ministers. We didn’t have this culture around 10 years ago. Nobody bothered about what players have achieved. So, in that way, it’s a positive thing that chess is getting that attention and the hard work of players is being recognised. For Gukesh, he is still very young, just 19, so he’s growing as a player and as a person. Though there will be criticism  [if he fails] after becoming world champion because of his performances, but for his age, it’s normal to have those ups and downs. As you keep learning and gaining experience, you’ll be more stabilised. But, the way he’s handling that [attention] is impressive. He’s showing maturity beyond his age,” Humpy told mid-day during a telephonic interaction recently.