Indian chess players have come a long way in the international arena at various levels. Be it junior, senior or age-wise category, India has produced world champions. Apart from players who have established themselves in the international chess circuit, there are players who hold promise of becoming grandmasters in the near future. One such player who has the ability is Baskaran Adhiban, a student of the Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai.
As a kid, Adhiban liked football but then it was chess that fascinated him. Instead of being a part of a team, he admired a sport where he could display his individual brilliance. When Adhiban won his first under-8 chess title in a district tournament in 2000, little did one know he would take up chess as a career. Year after year he won titles in a story of phenomenal growth. In a stunning show he clinching the National B title in 2008 in Dindigul. Thereby he became the youngest champion at the age of 16 and rewrote Krishnan Sasikiran’s record. What made it even more special was him achieving the feat in the presence of four GMs, Pravin Thipsay, Parimarjan Negi, Deepan Chakravarthy and Neelotpal Das.
Adhiban retained the National B title in Kolkata last month — the only player to have won it for the second consecutive time. He is one of the most exciting prospects in Tamil Nadu. The prodigy started off with three draws but bounced back when it mattered most. In the final round Adhiban beat Mary Ann Gomes to lift the title.
The grandmaster-in-waiting showed his potential, when he bagged his first national under-13 title at Kolkata in 2006. His major triumphs include: U-14 Asian gold in Uzbekistan and being a member of the gold-winning Indian team at the Youth Olympiad twice. Adhiban’s best victory was winning the World U-16 title in Vietnam in 2008.
Ever since he qualified for the National A, Adhiban has been performing consistently, but the GM norm has eluded him. A few tournaments in Spain and Netherlands did not go as well as Adhiban would have liked. Last year he narrowly missed the GM norm three times for want of stronger field, but he is confident of making the breakthrough soon.
He is now competing in the ongoing Kolkata Open. Adhiban will follow it up by taking part in the National A, World Junior in Argentina and the World U-18 in Turkey. Adhiban has been coached by S C Subramani and then the husband-wife pair of TS Ravi and Sai Meera. Now he is guided by K Visweswaran.
“Adhiban normally plays an attacking game but has mellowed a bit. He is more balanced and varies his game accordingly. He has the ability to visualise far ahead and calculate deeply,” said Visweswaran, a renowned coach who has contributed a lot to the game by coaching many youngsters in Tamil Nadu.
The initiative of the All India Chess Federation in introducing many age-wise category tournaments has undoubtedly helped the younger generation gain a lot of exposure, as vouched by Adhiban. The IM says it was these tournaments that gave him the much-needed boost during younger days.
Explaining the strain involved in being a chess player, Adhiban said, “I had my difficulties too, for not many schools allowed me to go out and play. I had to change schools frequently. When I was six years I was a student of Hindu Higher Secondary School, switched over to Gill Adarsh and later on to Cambridge MHSS, Royapettah. Now attached to Velammal I’ve been given full freedom and I’m on the move always.” Talking about how he juggles studies and chess, Adhiban said, “I’ve taken Commerce group and doing well in academics too. In the 10th standard I scored 80%.” Adhiban, who has a ELO rating of 2490, and is participating in quite a few top-rated tournaments in the near future, is confident of becoming a GM soon.
Goal: To be a grandmaster
Who is your favourite sportsperson?
Viswanathan Anand. It’s a coincidence that Vishy’s mother and my mother hail from the same place (Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu). Anand is someone who has contributed to changing the entire scenario of the sport here.
How do you manage your expenses?
All India Chess Federation sends me abroad whenever I represent the country and the Tamil Nadu Chess Association takes care of the National level tournaments (train fare, daily allowance etc). Since last year my new sponsor, Indian Oil Corporation gives me the sports kit, chess materials, officer grade accommodation and travel allowance for all tournaments in India.
How has your school helped you in pursuing chess as a career?
Velammal School management has been accommodative in many ways. I’m allowed to go as and when I wish. Teachers give me special coaching for the classes I miss due to tournaments. Many a time they have extended financial support and give cash awards every time I win a tournament. I just cannot forget the warm reception accorded to me back home after I won the world U-16 title at Vietnam.
What is your strong point?
I normally go for the attack but off late I vary my game according to the situation.
Where do you need to improve?
Positional game and taking part in tougher tournaments.
Have you undergone coaching abroad?
The exposure trips organised by the All India Chess Federation has helped us in many ways. Last year I went on a one month trip to Spain and played a few tournaments and this year I went to the Netherlands. Other than this I did not go for any special coaching abroad.
How has your family supported you?
For most of the tournaments my mother accompanies me. But on my world gold-winning trip, my trainer K Visweswaran was with me.
What are your other interests?
I watch cartoons and read adventure books.
How has the govt encouraged you?
I’m a recipient of the SAI talent search award, given by the Ministry of Sports.
An unforgettable quote?
On winning the World Youth Olympiad twice, Vishy Anand called me over the phone and said I was on the right track to become a Grandmaster.
Your close misses?
Twice in Spain I missed GM norms on technical grounds.
Your immediate goal?
I have an ELO rating of 2490. I hope to become a GM at the earliest.
-- julian@epmltd.com