Koneru Humpy becomes women’s World Rapid champion
New Delhi: India’s Koneru Humpy outwitted China’s Lei Tingjie in a dramatic Armageddon battle to win the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship in Moscow, Russia. While Humpy was crowned the world women’s rapid champion, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen claimed the men’s title in the space of a few minutes at the same venue on Saturday. “When I started my first game on Day 3 I did not imagine I would be at the top. My hope was to reach top three. I didn’t expect to play the tie-break games,” Humpy said in an interview with FIDE. “I lost the first game on time but came back in the second game. It was a gambling game, but I won. In the final game, I had a better position and it was a comfortable win.” Humpy collected nine points each in 12 rounds to be tied with Tingjie. The duo then played an Armageddon game to break the deadlock. The Indian lost the opening game before recovering in the second and then clinched the title in the decider. (PTI)
Murray out of Australian Open
London: Andy Murray said he felt “gutted” to be missing next month’s Australian Open due to injury after being ruled out of the first Grand Slam of the new year with a pelvic injury. The 32-year-old Scot suffered the injury playing for Great Britain in the Davis Cup last month and Murray said Saturday: “I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play in Australia in January.” “After the AO (Australian Open) this year, when I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to play again, I was excited about coming back to Australia and giving my best, and that makes this even more disappointing for me. “Unfortunately I’ve had a setback recently and as a precaution, need to work through that before I get back on court competing.” (AFP)
Rashid Khan flaunts camel bat
Melbourne: Afghanistan star Rashid Khan on Sunday flaunted a new bat design at the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League. Playing for the Adelaide Strikers against defending champions Melbourne Renegades, Rashid was seen holding a bat that had a depression on its back, giving it the look of a camel’s back. Cricket Australia tweeted a picture of the bat and nicknamed it “The Camel.”(IANS)
