Humpy eyeing world chess title

Vijayawada, Nov 6 (UNI) Grand Master Koneru Humpy today said as part of her preparation for the world chess championship for women expected to be held next year, she would be playing more men's Grand Master tournaments.

Talking to UNI here she said by playing more Grand Master men's tournaments she could prepare well for the World Chess Championship and also concentrate more on opening and middle games.

Humpy said she would participate in Corus B group Super Grand Master invitation tournament to be held at Holland from January 11 to 27 next year. About 14 players from across the world would be in fray in that tourney which would be held on round robin format.

''My ambitition is to win the coveted World Chess title,'' Humpy said, adding the date and venue of the championship was yet to be finalised.

She said her present ELO rating was 2606 points and ten more points, gained in the European Club Cup chess tournament held in Turkey last month, would be added to her rating in January 2008 after the FIDE Chess Federation releases the fresh ELO rating.

Humpy said she was thrilled to win the gold over Zhu Chen of Qatar in the final of the blitz individual championship in the World Indoor games.

She also expressed her happiness for winning two gold and two silver medals in the second Asiad Indoor Games held at Macau recently.

She said for the first time chess was introduced in the indoor games where she won a gold in rapid team chess, silver in classical team chess and another silver in blitz team chess.

UNI