AICF awaits K. Humpy's Participation in FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship

By: WE Staff | Friday, 17 September 2021

The All India Chess Federation is awaiting confirmation of leader K. Humpy's participation in the FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship, which begins on September 27 in Sitges, Spain.

“Since Humpy has had Covaxin vaccine (rather than Covishield, as favoured by European nations), she will be forced to undergo a 10-day quarantine upon arrival,” according to AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.

“Humpy had expressed apprehension over the possibility of difficulties on arrival at the European port. In the event of Humpy opting out, Mary Ann Gomes will join the team, since first-choice replacement Padmini Rout, too, has taken Covaxin. I am awaiting some clarity in a day.”

Koneru Humpy is the reigning women's global fast chess champion and an Indian chess player. At the age of 15 years she became the youngest woman to gain the title of Grandmaster, beating Judit Polgár's previous record by three months. Koneru, after Polgár, became the second female player to surpass the 2600 Elo rating level in October 2007, with a rating of 2606.

She initially competed in the Women's World Chess Championship in 2004, and she has since competed in every edition of the event staged in a knockout format. In 2004, 2008, and 2010, Koneru made it to the semifinals.

In the Mumbai Mayor Cup in 2009, she tied for first–fourth with Alexander Areshchenko, Magesh Panchanathan, and Evgenij Miroshnichenko.

D. Harika, R. Vaishali, Tania Sachdev, and Bhakti Kulkarni make up the rest of the team.

The league phase will include twelve teams, divided into two groups of six each. Each group's top four teams will advance to the quarterfinals. Each tie in the knockout phase will have two sets of play.

Competitions will be place on four boards, with each player having 45 minutes to play, plus a 10-second increment for each move. On October 2nd, the final will be held.