Disability doesn’t deter this chess champ Samrath’s spirit

MYSORE: “I want to be a world champion. One day I will become like Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, world chess champions,” says Samrath J Rao. Celebral palsy hasn’t diminished the spirit of this 14-year-old. Though he has 80% disability and struggles to move pieces on the board, he is a winner, having won laurels in several state-level chess tournaments.
Chess is Samrath’s life.He spends most of his time with his tablet playing the game. Last October, he participated in state-level FIDE-rated chess tournament in Bangalore and secured four points out of 10. A month later, at the state-level rapid chess tournament, he secured five points in nine rounds and won the consolation prize. Samrath was also the main attraction at the All-India Chess Championship (below 1800 FIDE rating), organized by the Mysore Professional Chess Academy at the Chamundi Vihar Indoor Stadium. He won many hearts for his dedication to the sport.
Players concede that they are wonderstruck seeing his performance. Aneesh, who played with Samrath, said, “He is a very quick decision maker and very fast in chess game. There have been moments when I would be intrigued by his moves.”
Samrath started playing chess over a year ago and since has been hooked to the game. He developed interest by watching others play chess in school. His young sister Sanvi J Rao is his chess partner and there couldn’t be a more supportive and proud sister.
Seeing his skill and interest, many players like V R Shastri, V K Kamath and Prasad Hegde, all from Honnavar, Samrath’s hometown, have been encouraging the boy. Samrath attends a regular school in Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district, and has the support of his schoolteachers and friends.
His proud parents want to nurture his fascination for the game. Father B S Jagadish Rao, an employee of Syndicate Bank, says, “I feel happy for his confidence and achievements. I am ready to sacrifice anything for my child’s welfare and happiness.” Jagadish spends nearly Rs 1 lakh a year on Samrath’s treatment alone. There are no hospitals near Honnavar to treat him and they have to make two trips a month to Mangalore for check-ups. The young boy has also undergone several surgeries in recent years.