Mon Dec 30 22:41:01 UTC 2024: ## Indian Chess Champion Humpy Triumphs After Months of Struggle
**Bengaluru, India** – Koneru Humpy, India’s newly crowned women’s world rapid chess champion, has overcome a period of intense self-doubt and motivational struggles to claim her second world title. The 37-year-old, currently ranked world No. 6, revealed in an interview that she considered quitting the sport just months ago after a string of disappointing results.
Humpy’s remarkable turnaround in the recent tournament, which began with a first-round loss, was attributed to a focused month of training that deliberately excluded the use of chess engines. Instead, she focused on practical training, puzzle-solving, and studying the games of past champions. This approach, she explained, helped her develop a stronger intuition for the rapid format, a format she admits she has historically struggled with consistency in.
The win provides a much-needed boost to Humpy’s motivation, which she admits has been a significant challenge, particularly as she ages and competes against much younger players. Balancing her career with family life, specifically caring for her seven-year-old daughter, also presents ongoing difficulties. Humpy revealed that her daughter, Ahana, celebrated the win by showing her own gold medal from an abacus competition.
While Humpy expressed contentment with her current achievements and desire to simply play good chess, she also highlighted the need for India’s next generation of female chess players to improve their ratings to contend for major titles. She specifically mentioned Vaishali, Divya, and Vantika as players with potential but who require a significant improvement in their performance. The victory, she says, serves as a reminder of her resilience and a renewed motivation to pursue excellence in the game.
First Piper 