Asian crown puts Koneru Humpy in a fix!

Asian crown puts Koneru Humpy in a fix!
SHAILENDRA AWASTHI

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 10: Becoming an Asian champion should be a cause for celebration for any chess player. Not for 13-year-old Koneru Humpy. The Vijaywada girl who claimed the girls' title in the Asian Championship at Hotel Centaur here on Sunday now finds herself in a fix.

Originally scheduled to play in World under-14 championship -- to be held in Castellon, Spain from October 10 -- Humpy by virtue of winning the crown has now qualified for the World junior championship to be held in London from September 17. With very little time left, she has to decide on participating in one of these two championships.

Koneru's father and mentor Ashok Humpy, also her full-time coach, appeared tense when asked about the future plans. He said, ``We will first go back to Vijaywada, have a bit of rest and then think over the next move.''

The title also saw Humpy clinch the first Women Grandmaster GM norm. ``Yes this one is definitely an important win for me. There were some very good opponents, I never thought to have it so easy in the end,'' said the champion.

``When I returned from London after taking part in the British championship (August 1 to 13), there was no time left for rest as this tournament was approaching.

``I came here with little practice. That's why this victory became special.''

Humpy was declared the British Ladies champion on the basis of her good showing having accumulated 6.5 points out of 11.

Reacting to her only loss in this tournament -- against Chinese sensation Yu Ting -- Koneru said, ``I made some glaring mistakes in the early part of the game, it was just not my day.''

If Humpy opts for the World Junior Championship then she would be also become the youngest ever Indian to have achieved the distinction.

Sponsored by the Bank of Baroda, Humpy receives about Rs 6,20,000 evry year. Now with success following her, she hopes that more sponsorships will follow.

Tejas delighted
IM Tejas Bakre indeed had a narrow escape. He was tied with hot favourite Pendyala Harikrishna for the titke. Both players had eight points each. But the application of progressive scoring system brought Bakre his second Asian boy's crown. ``Its wonderful,'' said the Ahmedabad player, terming it one of the best victories in his career.

However, there was one disappointment. Bakre failed to clinch a GM norm. He needed to win with at least half-a-point lead, which was not the case.

A final year student of the HL Commerce College, Ahmedabad, Bakre is all set to fly Yerevan, Armenia to play in the World junior chess championship.

He hopes to return with flying colours. Though there is little left for preparation, with his `Chess Base' and Fritz 5.3 programmes, Bakre is banking on his solid play to come through.