Indian chess prodigy Koneru Humpy is set to compete for a grand double as the FIDE World Blitz Championship kicks off on Tuesday. Humpy recently made headlines by winning the World Rapid Chess title for the second time, defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar to secure the championship. This victory not only capped a remarkable year for Indian chess but also made Humpy only the second player, after China’s Ju Wenjun, to win the title twice, having previously triumphed in 2019 in Georgia.
The upcoming Blitz championship offers not just the prestigious title but also a chance to claim a prize of USD 60,000 (approximately Rs 50 lakhs), matching the prize money of the Rapid event.
Indian contingent is well-prepared for the championship
The Indian contingent is well-prepared for the championship, which will feature 13 rounds in the ‘Open’ category and 11 rounds in the women’s section. Alongside Humpy, Dronavalli Harika is also expected to be a strong contender in the Blitz format. Fans are hoping for improved performances from R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh, both of whom struggled in the Rapid event.
In the ‘Open’ section, former world champion Magnus Carlsen, who faced disqualification from the Rapid event due to a dress code issue, is the clear favorite. However, he will face stiff competition from India’s R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi, as well as France’s Alireza Firouzja and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, all of whom are capable of challenging the Norwegian star.
Erigaisi, who narrowly missed out on the Rapid title, which was claimed by 18-year-old Volodar Murzin of Russia, will be looking to secure his place in the 2026 Candidates tournament through a strong performance in the Blitz championship.
