By Admin 
At 38, Koneru Humpy remains one of the world’s top players in women’s chess. She is at present the World No. 6. Last year, she won the women’s World rapid chess championship for the second time. In July, she contested the final of the women’s World Cup against fellow-Indian Divya Deshmukh and lost.
She hasn’t played since, but came to Goa as a guest at the World Cup. She made the ceremonial inaugural move for the second round of the fifth round, and then spoke at length about her career, her personal life and women’s chess, among other things. Excerpts:
You’ve taken a conscious call to space out your tournaments…
I take breaks so that I could spend quality time with my daughter and my husband. Before the World Cup, I had played a couple of tournaments in a row. So, after that, I decided to take this three months break. My daughter shouldn’t feel her mother is leaving every time for the tournament.
Even this morning she called me up to confirm that I would be getting back home tomorrow. That is how it is to be a mother. But yes, thankfully, I have a support system; I have my parents to look after my daughter. It really helps me a lot to travel around the tournaments. Well, it is also difficult as a player when I take a long break and to come back in a tournament. It is actually tough.
But I make sure before the tournament, at least around 20 days to one month, I have a regular routine of practice so that I don’t lose touch with the sport. I try myself in solving puzzles and playing a lot of online games, you know, to get to that mindset.
Of course, sometimes as a player, you might be successful, sometimes you may not. But it is all part of the sportsperson’s career.
The defeat to Divya Deshmukh in the World Cup final…
It was painful. Like any other person, when you lose a World title, it’s a bit disappointing. It took me time to come back, maybe a week or so. But once I am back home and once I start spending time with my daughter, I don’t mix up my professional and personal life.
Was the format challenging?
For the World Cup and its knockout format, I was mentally prepared for every round that, okay, I might get eliminated, it might happen. I have played so many knockouts. There have been times when I got eliminated in the second round and there have also been times when I played three or four semifinals and lost.
So, the only thing I told myself was to give the best whatever I could on that particular day. But of course, as a player, I do have certain limitations, and energy also matters a lot in this format. Going towards the end, after playing especially the semifinal tie-breaks with Lei Tingjie, I also lost a lot of energy.
If you are playing a Swiss tournament, you could just stick to your own preparations.
You don’t need to spend so much on changing the opening repertoire for just one particular game. But at an event like the World Cup, when you have a different opponent, you are forced to look at different things.
You have to spend quality time preparing so many new ideas and other stuff. So, that actually makes you lose energy. I think that is why I felt like this format is more suitable for younger players.
People might think it is an indoor sport and that energy doesn’t matter as much in outdoor sports. But at the end of the day, your brain needs a rest and you have to be fresh enough to play practically over the board. Especially in rapid and bridge formats, those small things matter a lot depending on how energetic you are.
Women playing against men is something you have long advocated for…
I have always said that young girls need to participate in the men’s circuit so that they could gain experience and also they will get the opportunity to improve their rating as well as learn more skills from stronger players.
I have done the same thing when I was younger; I used to play in a lot of open tournaments and also in the men’s National championships. I also took part in the age-group National championships for boys.
Today I think people are very well aware that women should also need to take part in the open events so that they could get that exposure.
And the present generation is smart enough to utilise the opportunities whenever they get.
I have been following many of them who have taken part in the open tournaments and they are improving their middle-game and end-game skills as well.
Making the ceremonial opening move at the World Cup…
I am very glad to be here because I haven’t played any tournament after the women’s World Cup and have had a break of three months. Here I got the opportunity to meet all the chess players and my friends, and it is a great honour to make the inaugural move of the FIDE World Cup.
You will be seen in action next month at the Global Chess League in Mumbai…
The Global Chess League is one of those events every player would love to play. It always has different formats and a different kind of energy. Last year they had created a new time control without the increment and it had a lot of impact on the results. So every year they have been innovative. I am sure that with our team Mumba Masters we will be able to give our best.
There’s also the title defence at the World rapid championships in Doha…
I just wanted to enjoy the format and play my best. Nowadays I believe that rather than chasing the title, it is more important to give your best. I am not the kind of player to keep a target from the start of the tournament.
Women’s chess in India has seen a number of encouraging results. Where do you see it going?
It is also growing slowly. But look at women’s cricket. People were even criticising the female cricketers. Now they have won the World Cup and people have started appreciating them and they are getting recognition. I think it is the same case in women’s chess.
And they will have the passion to learn. Having it in India, for players and it is an advantage for both players and fans. Players can have the food and weather conditions which they are used to. But at the same time, there is also pressure on them to have big crowds and so much media attention. It is not easy for a player when you are playing. You need to be very well balanced to concentrate on the sport and not to get distracted with other things.
What do you think of India hosting the World Cup?
We had a World Cup in 2002 as well, in Hyderabad, and that was my first. When we play such tournaments, in our home country, we see a lot of crowd coming. And the enthusiasm in the kids will grow more towards the sport. I think this is one of such events where people will get attracted to chess.
Have you enjoyed Goa as a World Cup host?
I think this is one of the best choices as far as the venue is concerned. We have seen players coming up from the southern part of India. Tamil Nadu is the hub for chess in India now. We have several Grandmasters from Andhra. We have many from Maharashtra, too. Goa is the place where we have seen very few players coming up at the national and international levels. I think this region is now having a great opportunity to witness these all top players. That could inspire the youngsters here to become professionals.