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Sashikiran
arrives to a warm welcome
 India's latest Grandmaster Krishnan Sashikiran arrived in the city to a warm welcome from his fans and Chess enthusiasts eager to see the young hero. Sashikiran obtained his final grandmaster norm at the Sangli International Open held recently. He was also awarded the Commonwealth title for his excellent performance in scoring 8.5 points out of eleven rounds.
 On Sunday night, the media men and a huge crowd rushed to the Brindavan Express that rolled into Chennai's Central station - many expecting to see a serious looking Chess master. Out emerged a young lad, with a back-bag, looking as if he was just returning home after a college excursion. He was a bit dazzled by the overwhelming gathering which one can term as a 'chess spectrum', with tiny tots waving "Sabash
Sashikiran!!" banners and wishing in their hearts to emulate their hero
someday . Officials from various chess associations in the city and nearby, garlanding the maestro, distributing sweets, etc., and even non-chess folks wanting to share this momentous occasion with the city's second Grandmaster after Viswanathan Anand.
Though after a tiring stretch of three tourneys, the national team championship in Nagpur, the Goodricke Open in calcutta and the Commonwealth championship in Sangli, the calm and perhaps a bit shy Sashi, spent time with all those who had come to congratulate him, signing autographs and even speaking about his
future chess plans. He is perhaps the first Indian to obtain four Grandmaster norms in pursuit of the coveted title. Though he had made the third norm at the Goodricke Open in Calcutta, the
three norms spanned only 29 games falling just short of the required 30. Unperturbed by the narrow miss, and at the very next opportunity at Sangli, the ever confident youngster grabbed what is rightfully his, the Grandmaster title.
By virtue of his performance in various tournaments this year, he takes his FIDE rating to a new high of 2560, a level that no other Indian player, except Anand, has ever achieved. Even at this young age, he is so committed a professional that he doesn't give himself much breathing space. It is Chess, Chess and only Chess for him, starting with a simultaneous display on the 9th at the Indian Red Cross Society, Egmore, the national Institutional Team championship from 10 to 13th, at the same venue, where he will be representing his employers Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and a tough
Grandmasters' tournament in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, from April 1st to 16th. Quite a long line up, but challenges are what Sashikiran savours! |
