Chess, along with archery, is bringing loads of laurels to the State of Andhra Pradesh and the recent performances by city players, both in domestic and international circuits, are an indicator of bright days ahead.
Former World under-10 champion Nuttaki Priyanka, who trained under senior coach V. R. Bobba, finished a credible fifth in the World under-12 championship held recently at South Africa by hauling 7.5 points. Physically challenged K.V.K. Karthik, a trainee at Global Chess Academy, stunned the world by winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth chess championship in Scotland. Later at the World chess championship in Serbia, he won a bronze against a good number of high-rated players.
“He is a fine example of perseverance and single-minded dedication. He has inspired many able-bodied players with his sterling show,” says Sk. Khasim, a senior coach and mentor. Forty-year-old Lakshman, who won an all-India FIDE rating tournament at Hyderabad, became another talking point in the chess circles when he won the title after a long struggle.
“Lakshman is a coach and he was training players like Teja Suresh, Potluri Supreetha and Priyanka. The experience he gained helped him win a major title,” says Bobba, chairman of Mustabada Sports and Educational Society.
Young Teja Suresh shone well at Warangal by winning a gold medal in the Blitz format of a FIDE ranking tournament and later in the classical segment he took the second place after trying for first place. “These are good results considering the fact that several talented players are cropping up all over the country thanks to the foray of technology in the game,” says D. Srihari of Andhra Pradesh Chess Association.
For all chess players, Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and M.R. Lalith Babu are idols primarily for their relentless pursuit of excellence. Vijayawada shot into fame in the late eighties and early nineties when prodigies like Harikrishna, Humpy, Harika, Lakshmi Sahiti, Lalith Babu, Dasari Sai Krishna, Kesavananda Krishna and several others began to make their mark in the game of sixty-four squares.
The city witnessed a beehive of action with the Andhra Gymkhana and Patamata Indoor stadia becoming permanent venues for national events. The role of senior chess coach V. R. Bobba is laudable as he brought many Fide-rated tourneys to Vijayawada which helped local players enhance their ratings. “Chess gels well with the psyche of the coastal youth and we will take the game forward in all respects in the 13 districts of new Andhra Pradesh,” promises Srihari.
