Koneru Humpy - Player Thread

[Sandeep]

Humpy is playing at the First women grand prix of this year and she made a romping start winning her first two rounds against reputed opponents (M Pia Cramling and IM Elina Danielian)

Koneru Humpy is leading the standings after two rounds with 2 points. She will play Yildiz Betul Cemre (WIM, 2214) in the third round today. Go Humpy

[jaydeep]

With 2 draws in next 2 rounds against lowly rated opponents Humpy is on tied 3rd position ½ pt behind leaders Hou Yifan and Martha Fierro ... So now after today's rest day Humpy need to comeback in her winning ways.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 3 - 9 March 2009
WIM Betül Cemre Yildiz ½ - ½ GM KONERU Humpy

Round 4 - 10 March 2009
GM KONERU Humpy ½ - ½ WGM Shen Yang

[suresh]

The match against the Turkish player was drawn after 122 moves! Humpy is a fighter.

[jaydeep]

After rest day Humpy came back to her winning way, in 5th round she defeated last round co-leader Ecuadorian IM Martha Fierro playing with black pieces ... Chinese GM Yifan Hou still lead by ½ pt with 4½ pts after 5 rounds.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 5 - 12 March 2009

IM Martha Fierro 0 - 1 GM KONERU Humpy

[jaydeep]

Humpy scored victory with white pieces against Georgian GM Maia Chiburdanidz ... So after 6 round Chinese GM Hou Yifan still leading by ½ pt ... In 7th round Humpy is facing leader GM Hou Yifan with black pieces.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 6 - 13 March 2009

GM KONERU Humpy 1 - 0 GM CHIBURDANIDZE Maia

[jaydeep]

Hou Yifan defeated Koneru with white pieces to take decisive lead over her ... She is leading by 1½ pts over her with 6½ pts from 7 rounds.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 7 - 14 March 2009

GM HOU Yifan 1 - 0 GM KONERU Humpy

[jaydeep]

Humpy scored expected victory against Mamedjarova with white pieces ... Zhao Xue scored upset win over leader Hou Yifan to take lead ... She is on 7 pts, Yifan is on 6½ pts and Humpy on 6 pts ... In next 9th round Humpy is playing against leader Zhao Xue with black pieces.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 8 - 16 March 2009

GM KONERU Humpy 1 - 0 WGM MAMEDJAROVA Zeinab

[Sandeep]

With just three rounds to go title hopes appear bleak. She can't afford to lose now. This might add additional pressure on her.

[jaydeep]

In the ninth round Xue Zhao managed to hold a difficult game against Humpy Koneru ... So Xue kept lead with ½ pt over Yifan.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 9 - 17 March 2009

GM ZHAO Xue ½ - ½ GM KONERU Humpy

[akmohanty]

humpy has managed to win the 10th game while one chinese girl has drawn and the other has lost. so, going into the final round, all three are tied at 7.5 points. humpy has a tough opponent in Marie Sebag, who defeated Xue Zhao, the leader, today.

[jaydeep]

Yes, very interesting situation indeed ... Today's last round gurantee exciting finish as Koneru Humpy joined the lead with 2 Chinese girls ... Humpy scored victory against Bulgarian GM Stefanova with white pieces but leader GM Zhao Xue lost against French GM Marie Sebag, whom Humpy playing with black pieces in the last round ... And Armenian IM Elina Danielian managed draw with other Chinese GM Hou Yifan ... So now leaders r on 7½ pts ... C'mon Humpy.

At the FIDE Women Grand Prix, Istnbul, Turkey

Round 10 - 18 March 2009

GM KONERU Humpy 1 - 0 GM STEFANOVA Antoaneta

[Sandeep]

Excellent win when it mattered the most. Go Humpy

[akmohanty]

If i am not wrong, looking at the games it seems that humpy has won the tournament !!! she has won the last game against Marie Sebag whereas one Chinese player has drawn and the other has lost. great show, humpy, keep it up.

[viji]

It seems that way to me as well. Other that the top two chinese players, Elina Daniellan, had a shot with her win over Zhao Xue, but Elina makes it upto 8 pts (same as Yifan after her draw). Humpy gets 8.5. Xue, would have to be satisfied with 7.5 points at the fourth position.

I hope the live game scores are reliable. Great job Humpy, but she got some help from Zhao Xue, Marie Sebag and Elina Daniellan (and, I should add, Shen Yang).
...........................

Looking at Humpy's game against Marie Sebag's Ruy Lopez, Humpy was dominating early on from the middle game.

Humpy has often not been very successful in women only tournaments, apparently because the pressure is on her to win most games. She scan lose rating points even with +5 score in tournaments such as this! She kept her spirits up despite setbacks (loss to Yifan and a missed win against Xue) and won the tournament, deservedly.

[suresh]

Congratulations to Humpy on winning the Grand Prix -- what a comeback. She delivered while her Chinese opponents folded -- something we rarely see Indians do in any sport. She is one of the toughest players in our country -- just ask the guys who had to play her in the National A championship where she would not settle for friendly draws.

Final Standings:

• 1 GM KONERU Humpy 2621 IND 8½ 0 43,50 4½
  2 IM DANIELIAN Elina 2496 ARM 8 ½ 40,25 4
  3 GM HOU Yifan 2571 CHN 8 ½ 39,75 4
  4 GM ZHAO Xue 2508 CHN 7½ 0 35,25 3½
  5 GM SEBAG Marie 2529 FRA 6 0 28,00 3
  6 IM FIERRO Baquero Martha L. 2403 ECU 5½ 1 20,00 1
  7 GM CRAMLING Pia 2548 SWE 5½ 0 22,75 1
  8 GM STEFANOVA Antoaneta 2557 BUL 5 ½ 20,75 2
  9 GM CHIBURDANIDZE Maia 2516 GEO 5 ½ 20,25 1½
  10 WGM MAMEDJAROVA Zeinab 2362 AZE 2½ 1 10,25 1
  11 WGM SHEN Yang 2448 CHN 2½ 0 17,75 2
  12 WIM YILDIZ Betul Cemre 2214 TUR 2 0 8,00 ½