Murzin & Humpy emerge FIDE Rapid World Champions 2024
The golden boy from Russia Volodar Murzin (DOB July 18, 2006), led the illustrious field on all the three days, winning the FIDE world rapid champion 2024 title with a clear 10/12 score at CIPRANI 55 Wall Street, New York here today. It was a marathon race that Murzin appeared to complete as a sprint. This rare teenager reminds one, of the great Kenyan athlete Henry Rono who never needed a pace-setter and would go for the tape from start to finish.
An Elo 2881 performance comprising of seven wins and six draws taking the title undefeated in such a strong field, are clear indications that a star is born. Add to it Murzin’s stunning wins over Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa and Jan-Krzysztof Duda which are the icing on his performance cake.
Speaking to the media after becoming the second youngest player to win the world rapid title, 18-year-old Murzin said, ““For me, it’s easy to play with top Grandmasters because it’s very interesting to play with them. I wanted to win, I was a bit lucky, but it worked”. When asked what he planned to do with the huge winner’s cheque of USD 90000 Murzin smiled and said, “I want to buy a house”.
On the final medal placings, it turned out to be an all Russian affair as Murzin was followed by three times former world blitz champion Alexander Grischuk in the second place while twice World Championship Challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi took the third spot with a clutch final round win over Sevian Samuel (USA).
The uncertainties of sports can be seen right through the three days, as Murzin apart, the rest of the field promised more but could only deliver less. Erigaisi Arjun who found himself in a must win situation could only tie for the fourth spot, despite remaining close to top right through the tournament.
The speed machine from hosts USA, Hikaru Nakamura had a nearly forgettable tournament. In the final round Hikaru went down to fellow countryman Hans Moke Niemann, while earlier losses to Jacobson Brandon (USA) and Murzin Volodar (Rus) pegged him to 45th spot with 7.5 points. World No. 2 Fabiano Caruana (USA) who had to keep an eye on Erigaisi Arjun’s performance, in lieu of FIDE Circuit points for Candidates, finished 15th with 8.5 points.
India’s golden run in chess continued as Grandmaster Koneru Humpy (8.5/11) won the FIDE Women’s World Rapid chess championship 2024, taking a clear first place. If one add’s Humpy’s triumph to India’s double gold in Budapest Olympiad followed by the world championship title by Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore, we could see India has completed a Grand Slam in chess. When asked about which of her two world rapid titles she’d cherish more, Humpy said,”the one that I won today in New York came under very challenging circumstances & I would put this ahead of the one that won in Moscow in 2019″.
For Champion Humpy the start was disappointing as she went down to Kairbekova Amina (Kaz) in the opener. Regaining her composure Humpy finished the first day with 2.5 points from four rounds. The second day she swept to win all the four games, taking her to the leader-board with 6.5 points after eight rounds. The final day began sedately as Humpy drew world champion Ju Wenjun (Chn) and Lagno Kateryna (Rus) in successive rounds. At the start of the 11th and final round, seven players kept the lead with 7.5 points with a distinct possibility of a tie on the top. But as providence would have it, only Humpy went on to win her game against IM Sukandar Irine Kharisma (Ina) clinching a clear title with 8.5 points. The crucial final round win saw the Indian star grind down the Indonesian, confidently tightening her grip on the trophy.
Sharing the second spot with 8.0 points were Ju Wenjun (Chn), Lagno Kateryna (Rus), Tan Zhongyi (Chn), Dronavalli Harika (Ind) Kosteniuk Alexandra (Sui), Khamdamova Afruza (Kaz) in that order of tie-breaks. For the six players who started the final round with even points it was a case of so near yet so far, a heart-breaker to say the least. But with the world blitz championship starting after a day’s break they have one opportunity to make amends and could conclude the year in a grand manner.
Sukandar Irine Kharisma (2354) – Koneru Humpy (2431) 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 h6 5. a4 Nf6 6. Be3 Bxe3 7. fxe3 d6 8. O-O Be6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Qe1 Nb4 11. Rc1 c6 12. Kh1 d5 13. Bb3 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxd3 15. cxd3 Bxb3 16. Nc5 Be6 17. Nxe5 Qe7 18. Qh4 Rfe8 19. d4 Ng4 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 21. Nxg4 Bxg4 22. Rfe1 Rae8 23. Rc3 Rd8 24. h3 Bc8 25. Nd3 Bf5 26. Kg1 Bxd3 27. Rxd3 f5 28. Rc1 f4 29. exf4 Re4 30. Rcd1 Rxf4 31. b3 Rd5 32. g3 Rf7 33. b4 a5 34. bxa5 Rxa5 35. d5 cxd5 36. Rd4 Rf3 37. Kg2 Ra3 38. Rb1 R3xa4 39. Rxa4 Rxa4 40. Rxb7 Rd4 41. Kf3 Kh7 42. Ke3 Re4+ 43. Kf3 Kg6 44. Rd7 Re5 45. Rd6+ Kf5 46. Rd7 Kf6 47. g4 h5 48. Kf4 g5+ 49. Kf3 h4 50. Rd6+ Ke7 51. Ra6 Re6 52. Ra7+ Kd6 53. Ra6+ Ke5 54. Ra5 Rb6 55. Ra3 Kd4 56. Ra4+ Kc3 57. Ra5 Rf6+ 58. Ke2 Re6+ 59. Kf2 Re5 60. Rc5+ Kb4 61. Rc8 d4 62. Rb8+ Kc3 63. Rc8+ Kd2 64. Ra8 d3 65. Ra2+ Kc3 66. Ra3+ Kc2 67. Ra2+ Kb3 0-1
Final Standings (Open): 1 Murzin Volodar (Rus) 10.0, 2-3 Grischuk Alexander, Nepomniachtchi Ian (both Russia) 9.5, 3-9 Dominguez Perez Leinier (USA), Erigaisi Arjun (Ind), Sindarov Javokhir (Uzb), Firouzja Alireza (Fra), Dubov Daniil (Rus), Grigoryan Karen H (Arm) 9.0, 10 Sevian Samuel (USA) 8.5 pts (180 players)
Final Standings (Women): 1 Koneru Humpy 8,5 (Ind), 2-7 Ju Wenjun (Chn), Lagno Kateryna (Rus), Tan Zhongyi (Chn), Dronavalli Harika (Ind) Kosteniuk Alexandra (Sui), Khamdamova Afruza (Kaz) 8.0, 8-10 Assaubayeva Bibisara (Kaz), Sukandar Irine Kharisma (Ina), Tsolakidou Stavroula (Gre) 7.5 pts (110 players)
Picture courtesy: FIDE (International Chess Federation)
Official Site: https://worldrapidandblitz2024.fide.com/
