Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 30: Shriyana S Mallya, the 7-year-old daughter of Nandini and Sandeep Mallya, residents of Urwa, Mangaluru, has made India, and particularly Mangalureans proud by winning the bronze medal in the World School Chess Championship held in Lasi, Romania.
The tournament which began on April 21 ended with the final round on Sunday April 30.
In the blitz tournament which was held in the morning of April 27, Shiryana won yet another bronze.
With this, Shriyana has become one of the very few Indian girls who have achieved the feat of earning WCM (Woman Candidate Master) at the age of 7. WCM is the one of the ranking titles awarded by FIDE.
She is a student of Lourdes Central School, Bejai, Mangaluru, studying in 2nd standard and learning chess at the Derik's Chess School.
The World School Chess Championship was held in six open categories and six girls' categories for the age groups of 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17. The tournament was held at the famous Palace of Culture, a Neogothic landmark containing four museums at Lasi, Romania.
A total of 28 girls participated from all over the world in the under-7 girls' category.
Ranked number 3 in the tournament behind a Romanian girl Sida Flavia-Maria and FIDE girl, Singh Ziana, an Indian, Shriyana Mallya won the first round against Mangolian contestant Namuun Ligden. In the second round, she lost against Malaysia's Salihin Afiqah Zahra, but in the third round she came back, defeating another Mangolian girl Tselmuun Dorjsuren. In the fourth round she defeated Indian girl Saara Jain and in the fifth round she had to be content with half point drawing a game with Mangolia's Pagamdulam Munkhdemberel. In the sixth round Shriyana won over her opponent, FIDE player Singh Ziana. In the seventh round she defeated Enkhuyanga Gantsolmon of Mangolia and stood at No 1 positiion in the competition. But in the penultimate 8th round which was crucial for her to win the title, she had to face defeat against her opponent, again a girl from Mangolia Maral Bat-Ulzii.
In the final round, she won easily against a Kazakistan girl Kaliakhmet Elnaz and took her tally of points to 6.5. All through the tournament, the youngster displayed tremendous skills, talent and clinical approach to the game.
While the Mangolian girl Tselmuun Dorjsuren with 7 points won the championship, another Mangolian constestant Maral Bat-Ulzii, also with 7 points won the silver. All the top 3 girls were bestowed with the title of WCM (Woman Candidate Master) at the prize distribution ceremony. Another Indian girl Saara Jain stood at the 23rd position after the final round.
Shriyana was accompanied by her father Sandeep Mallya on her tour to Romania.
Shriyana is the national school chess champion as well as Karnataka state chess champion in the under-7 girls' age category. She won these titles on January 7, 2017 in Nagpur and on April 4 this year in Bengaluru. Winning the national school championship gave her an automatic berth in the World School Shess Championship held in Lasi, Romania and Asian School Chess Championship to be held in China in May.