Humpy Pips Chinese At The Post For Title

By Arvind Aaron

World No.2 Koneru Humpy won the FIDE Women's Grand Prix at Istanbul by winning the two last games against former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria and Marie Sebag of France.

Humpy finished on 8.5/11 in a 12-player all-play-all. Humpy who had a start rating of 2617 finished with a rating performance of 2679 by holding her nerves in the final round to win.

Three players started the final round on 7.5/10 but only Humpy actually went on to win while Hou Yifan drew country mate Shen Yang and Zhao Xue lost to Marie Sebag.

It was a dramatic final round on March 19 and a memorable win for Koneru Humpy who started as the top seed. Humpy lost one game to Hou Yifan and drew three others while thrashing seven others for the title.

Humpy is trained and accompanied by her father Koneru Ashok, a well-known chess player from Andhra Pradesh.

Surprisingly, the Chinese could not stand the nervous final rounds and Humpy of ONGC, Vijayawada held her nerve and won with ease and brilliance.

Against Stefanova, Humpy played a splendid clearance bishop sacrifice and against Sebag she won a nice king hunt. Remember to wish Humpy on her birthday on March 31.

Final placings: 1 Koneru Humpy (Ind) 8.5/11; 2-3. Elina Danielian (Arm), Hou Yifan (Chn) 8 each; 4 Zhao Xue (Chn) 7.5; 5 Marie Sebag (Fra) 6; 6-7. Martha Fierro (Ecu), Pia Cramling (Swe) 5.5; 8-9. Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul), Maya Chiburdanidze (Geo) 5 each; 10-11. Zeinab Mamedyarova (Aze), Shen Yang (Chn) 2.5 each; 12 Betul Yildiz (Tur) 2.
 

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Home                                                       Published on 20^th March,  2009