| Saravanan excels at
simultaneous Chess  A simultaneous display basically offers a chess enthusiast, both a
beginner and an amateur, to cross swords with an established star, usually an
International Master or a Grand Master. For many, it may possibly be an only chance in
their lifetime when they play across the board with a professional. Also for some with
great interest in the game, but are not in a position to spare that much time for
preparation, it is a big opportunity to test their wares.
Also many a time it is the occasion which signals the
arrival of a big player. Kasparov at the young age of eleven played and
drew the then World Champion Karpov in a simultaneous game. Kasparov, the strongest player
the Chess world has seen in recent times gave a path breaking simul with clocks, when he
started playing national teams with strong Grand Masters on all the  boards.
Former World Champion Alexander Alekhine, known for his ingenious
combinations was also an outstanding simul player and made big news when he gave blind
simul to nearly twenty players in the early part of this century. On the
Indian scene, our super star Viswanathan Anand has given several such displays all
over the country, which has popularised the game to a great extent.
IM Saravanan's simul at Red Cross Society, Egmore,
Chennai, sandwiched between the State Children's Chess championship
attracted forty one entries. The surprises were far and few with just two players pulling
the seasoned star down with a draw and a win each. Young Ram Prakash caused
the only upset of the day putting it over Saravanan, while the upcoming M K Narasimhan
played steadily to hold the International Master to a draw. |
