CHENNAI: The Indian chess fraternity is delighted with the men’s team’s historic bronze at the Olympiad in Norway. Despite the surge in the number of Grandmasters following the ascent of Viswanathan Anand, a medal at the world’s biggest team championship had eluded India in the past, even with the five-time world champion in the team.
“To win bronze without Anand and P Harikrishna, two of our highest rated players, is a milestone in Indian chess. There had been occasions in the past when we came close to a medal but failed in the last couple of rounds. This team didn’t let that happen and beating Germany in the penultimate round was the turning point. To click together at the right time and keeping it up over a period is the key and this team has done that,” noted India’s second GM Dibyendu Barua, who played seven editions of the Chess Olympiad from 1988.
The winner of gold on the second board in 1990 felt having K Sasikiran on the third board made a big difference. “In events like these, the first two boards usually play safe, where 65 even 50 per cent score is acceptable. The third and fourth boards are the striking zones. Earlier, world rankings were followed in allotting the boards, but now it isn’t necessary. Having our strongest player on the third board meant he could look for wins and he did that,” said Barua of the Chennai GM, the highest rated player in the team.
GM Sandipan Chanda, who played three Olympiads from 2004, felt consistent performances and peaking at the right time on all the boards proved crucial. “Sethuraman on the second board was the surprise pack, while on the third, Sasikiran’s experience helped in a big way. Parimarjan (Negi) perhaps had the toughest job on the top board where he held his own. The victory against (former world champion) Rustam Kasimdzhanov must have taken a lot of mental strength because with a medal at stake, there was pressure. To beat an experienced player at that stage was special,” said Chanda, one of Anand’s seconds in last year’s big match.
For over a decade, a throbbing and growing chess population which produced over 30 GMs in the last 14 years and pushed the country to seventh in the world team rankings, wasn’t enough for India to show anything tangible in terms of achievement apart from the exploits of Anand. Negi or Sasikiran did win titles abroad, but those didn’t stamp India’s arrival as a chess powerhouse. This bronze may change things.
“This is a highly commendable and well-coordinated achievement headed by Sasikiran. India has a lot of upcoming players and this effort promises more collective good results in the future. Individually, we have Sasikiran and Harikishna after Anand and this performance shows that as a team, we are capable of winning laurels,” said Chennai-based GM RR Laxman.