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Narendra Modi congratulated Koneru Humpy on social media for winning her second World Rapid Championship title.
Koneru Humpy is India’s top-rated female chess player (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to congratulate Koneru Humpy for winning her second World Rapid Championship title.
“Congratulations to Koneru Humpy on winning the 2024 FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship! Her grit and brilliance continues to inspire millions,” PM Modi posted on X, formerly on Twitter.
“This victory is even more historic because it is her second world rapid championship title, thereby making her the only Indian to achieve this incredible feat,” he added.
Koneru Humpy is India’s top-rated female chess player and finished finishing the tournament with 8.5/11.
She had won her first gold in the 2019 edition, in Moscow.
ALSO READ | Koneru Humpy Grabs Historic Rapid Chess World Title; Second Of Her Career
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. Playing with the black pieces, she outmanoeuvred Indonesia’s International Master Irine Kharisma Sukandar in a challenging endgame, claiming the title in style.
“It’s not easy to become a world champion when you are 37. It’s quite difficult when you get older to keep that motivation and stay sharp when required. I’m glad that I made it,” Kuneru said after the triumph, as quoted by FIDE.
“I feel very happy for winning for the second time. In fact, I didn’t expect it at all because I lost my first-round game, and I never imagined that I could finish the tournament as a world champion. This victory is very special. When I am on my lower side, I think this gave me the boost to fight and to again work on chess,” she added.
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 Gukesh D won the title of World Champion in classical chess.
“It’s high time for India – we have Gukesh as the World Champion and now I got the second world title in the Rapid event,” Kuneru.
Koneru’s 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.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Volodar Murzin made history as the second-youngest person to win the Open Rapid.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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