Koneru Humpy to miss 45th Chess Olympiad to partake in other tournaments: Reports

Former World Rapid Chess Champion Koneru Humpy has decided to give Budapest Chess Olympiad a miss for not being able to play back-to-back events. The Andhra Pradesh-born is set to feature in several other world-class events this year; hence, she cannot overburden herself.

Koneru is all set to play the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship in Kazakhstan from July 31 and is also part of the Grand Prix Series to be held in London in October. Ranked World No. 7, Koneru Humpy is the Chief Manager at ONGC and is on the attainment of her ultimate goal of winning the World Championship. She was quoted as saying by Sportstar:

“I have opted out of the Olympiad because I am no longer in a position to play back-to-back tournaments and also the fact that I have already confirmed my entry into some of the major events.

“I will be taking part in the World Rapid and Blitz team championship in Kazakhstan from July 31 in which players from different countries will be in each team and also then in the Grand Prix Series in October in London.”

Koneru has been training hard for it, especially with her daughter Ahana in second grade, which has given her time to think about a full-fledged chess career.

While smiling, she further added:

“Well, my daughter Ahana is now in second Standard and that also means I can focus more on chess at home.”

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Koneru Humpy's achievements define her mastery in chess

Koneru Humpy has been attributed as the bronze medalist in the Chess Olympiad 2022 and the winner of the 2019 FIDE Women's Rapid Chess Championship. She made a record in history by becoming the youngest woman to make the Grandmaster title at the age of 15. Her record was later inseparably broken by Hou Yifan in 2008. She remains the first official Grandmaster among Indian women.

Koneru's achievements are numerous and impressive. She won the title of Asia's youngest Woman International Master in 1999; in 2001, she grabbed the title of India's youngest Woman Grandmaster. Her career successes are defined by bronze at the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship in 2012, wins at both the Skolkovo and Monaco Women's Grand Prix events in 2019 as well as a gold medal at the Cairns Cup and FIDE Online Chess Olympiad in 2020.

The recent years have allowed her to win a silver medal at the Women's World Blitz Chess Championship in 2022, Global Chess League, and Women's Tata Steel India Chess Tournament Blitz in 2023. This year, the 37-year-old Grandmaster clinched silver at the Women's Candidate Tournament.

The 45th Chess Olympiad will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from September 10 to 23, 2024.