After bronze, Harika aims to scale 2600 peak
HYDERABAD:In an interview just before the World Championship at Tehran, Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika had said: “One day, I’ll win the world title for sure”. Seeing her 2016 performances, where she won gold at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Chengdu and finished fifth at the Grand Prix in Khanty-Mansiysk, many thought a world title was round the corner.
But it was heartbreak for the 26-year-old Hyderabadi, as she ended up with bronze, a feat she already achieved twice — in 2012 and 2015. She lost a tight tie-breaker against China’s Tan Zhongyi to settle for bronze. Though far from being satisfied as far as personal goals are concerned, Harika is relieved that she could win a medal for the country once again. “It would have been really good for me if I had got gold. But I’m just glad that I managed to win another medal for India. I just have to accept that I was outplayed,” the World No 5 told Express.
Currently on 2539 rating points, Harika wants to reach the coveted 2600 point mark. For the record, the only Indian woman to achieve that mark is Koneru Humpy — 2623 points in July 2009. “That is something that has been on my mind for long. It’s really difficult to get to that mark. If I get there, that would put me in the same league as some of the biggest players of all time. It is within my reach, but I have to work really hard for it,” she added.
Often compared to Humpy, Harika does not like to think too much about it. After years of experience, she has finally learned to ignore things that don’t concern her. Harika also pointed out that the duo bonds well when on overseas tours. “Now I’m used to all the comparisons. I’m just focused on my game. When we travel abroad, we do talk a lot but then we make sure we talk about other stuff, not chess,” she added.
With two international open tournaments in sight, Harika is now at home for a month-long break, one that she wishes to use for relaxation and fine-tuning her skills with coach and mentor MVS Ramaraju. The coach-ward duo relies a lot on chess literature to improve. “I have two international opens in Sharjah and Iceland next month. While I’m at home right now, I would like to use it to discuss and learn some new skills with my coach. We depend a lot on books. My coach reads it first and then gives it to me. That works well for me. Hopefully, this time too, I will get to learn something new that will help me in my game,” Harika concluded.
madhav@newindianexpress.com