Meet the Legends: Koneru Humpy

Full Name: Koneru Humpy

Peak FIDE Rating: 2623 (July 2009)

Active Since: 1999

Federation: India

Player Description:

Koneru Humpy, born on March 31, 1987, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, is one of India’s most successful chess grandmasters. Trained by her father, Her father, Koneru Ashok, a national-level chess player himself, was her first coach. He gave up his own career to train her. What started as a bonding activity between father and daughter slowly turned into India’s most remarkable chess story.

Humpy rose rapidly through the ranks, winning major youth titles before making history in 2002 by becoming the youngest woman to earn the Grandmaster title at the time, at just 15 years and 1 month. Known for her strategic depth and quiet dominance on the board, Humpy has earned global respect with wins at the Women’s World Rapid Championship (2019) and FIDE Online Olympiad (2020). Her consistency over decades makes her a true icon of Indian chess.

Career Scorecard:

World Championship Cycle Appearances:

Women’s World Chess Championship: Semifinalist (2009)

Participant in multiple World Championship cycles

National Championships:

Former Indian Women’s Champion

Multiple-time winner in junior national age categories

Olympiad Medals:

Gold Medal – FIDE Online Olympiad 2020 (Joint Champions with Russia)

Bronze Medal – FIDE World Women’s Team Championship 2021

Tournaments Won:

World Youth U-12 Girls Champion (1999)

World U-14 Girls Champion (2000)

World Junior Girls Champion (2001, 2003)

Asian Women’s Champion (2001)

FIDE Women’s Grand Prix – Nalchik (2009)

Women’s World Rapid Chess Champion (2019)

Memorable Games:

1. Koneru Humpy vs Ju Wenjun – Women’s World Rapid Championship 2019

This was a standout victory during Humpy’s comeback to competitive chess. Facing Ju Wenjun, the reigning Women’s World Champion, Humpy played calmly under time pressure, outmaneuvering her opponent in the endgame. The win proved crucial in her title run, as she went on to win the event and claim her first-ever world title.

2. Koneru Humpy vs Tan Zhongyi – FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, Nalchik 2009

A sharp positional game where Humpy, with White, slowly built pressure through central control and open-file activity. She capitalized on her opponent’s inaccuracies to win cleanly, helping her secure first place in the Nalchik Grand Prix — one of her biggest career tournament wins.

3. Koneru Humpy vs Elisabeth Paehtz – FIDE Online Olympiad 2020

In a must-win scenario during the final stages of the Olympiad, Humpy held her nerve and converted a small advantage into victory against a strong opponent. Her result helped Team India clinch gold (jointly with Russia) and marked one of the most historic moments in Indian chess.