Humpy readying for
chess World Cup

India's teenage chess prodigy Koneru Humpy expressed happiness at being conferred the men's Grandmaster norm by the world chess body, FIDE.

"FIDE's decision has inspired me do well in future," she said, after FIDE vice-president P T Umer Koya made the announcement in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

"I would like to thank everyone who helped me to get this GM title, including my sponsors Bank of Baroda, Koya, and the Andhra Pradesh government for encouraging me well, and finally FIDE," she added.

Speaking about her future plans, Humpy said: "I am preparing seriously for the second chess World Cup, to be held in Hyderabad, from October 9 to 20. I am practicing for six hours daily and studying new openings."

The 15-year-old lass is India's seventh Grandmaster, the others being Vishwanathan Anand, Dibyendu Barua, Praveen Thipsay, Krishnan Sasikiran, Abhijith Kunte and Pendyala Harikrishna.

Humpy becamse the youngest Grandmaster, achieving the title at the age of 15 years, one month, 27 days.