Humpy opts out of chess Olympiad

by Sheelpa Kothari

New Delhi, June 17 (PTI) - India's Koneru Humpy, world's
top-ranking Grandmaster behind Judith Polgar in women's
category, has decided to give the chess Olympiad a miss to be
staged this November in Dresden, Germany, despite being given
her maiden opportunity to play for the men's team.

The 21-year-old queen of 64 squares, who had been
spearheading Indian challenge in women's section, was keen to
represent the country in the open section, but when selected
to be a part of the men's team this year, she preferred to
play in her promised FIDE events and earn some ELO rating
points.

"It was a difficult choice but I'll have to skip it. I
had already confirmed some competition in Europe -- European
Club Cup in Greece and Cap de Agde in France -- eight months
before. Dates of these tournaments have now been postponed to
late October and the Olympiad is in November," Humpy told
P.T.I.

The youngest woman ever to become a Grandmaster by
beating Polgar's record by 3 months, Humpy's ratings have been
on the rise and she was selected to play in the men's team in
Olympiad by virtue of being among the top-five GMs of the
country.

She crossed ELO 2600 mark in October 2007 and will be ELO
2622 when the next rating list is issued by the International
Chess Federation (FIDE).

For Humpy, who has toppled Anatoly Karpov twice in rapid
games, the opportunity to play on the same board as Karpov and
Bacrot in a competition for players of the calibre of ELO 2700
was hard to resist.

"In Cap de Agde I will meet (Etienne) Bacrot of France,
Karpov and other 2700 plus players and since I am
concentrating on my rating career it is difficult to miss it,"
Humpy said.

"Moreover, I have not attended the camp organised for the
team by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) where 'team
spirit' was the main point. Since it's a team event, I cannot
go without adequate preparation.

"(Besides) Our past performances were not very great. I
was not happy with the performances. Everyone thinks it was
good show by us in Turin last time but that was in comparison
to the men's team," she said.

Humpy feels her absence would not make much difference to
the country's medal prospects in women's category.

"We don't have a medal chance against China and Russia as
they have all players above ELO 2450 or 2500. But among men if
(World Champion Viswanathan) Anand plays they have a great
chance. Even last time they were seeded second and they have
good average."

Humpy admitted that the Olympiad might have hampered her
efforts to improve ratings.

"Right now, I am concentrating on my rating career. Since
I have crossed ELO 2600 I have to be extra attentive to my
competition. I don't want to disturb my preparation," she said
adding that "I am specially working on my opening repertoire."

Although the Vizag girl wants to play in the open
category than women's tournaments, she would next play in the
North Ural's Cup Superwomen Tournament and Women's World
Championships. She had won the North Ural's Cup in 2005.
"I am concentrating more on men's events. But I'll
continue to play in some select official events in women's
section.

"Now a days rankings don't matter in such tournaments. It
would be a tough challenge from the likes of Antoaneta
Stefanova and Alexandra Kosteniuka," said Humpy, who is
satisfied with her performance so far this year.

"I didn't play well in starting at the Corus but I was
doing well later on. I also got second place in the Mumbai
International." PTI