AIMING HIGH: Lakshmi Sahithi with her parents in the city on Tuesday. — PHOTO: SATISH.H

HYDERABAD: The quest of Andhra Pradesh for a successor to Koneru Humpy might well come to an end if Pinnamaneni Lakshmi Sahithi's title-triumph in the just-concluded Asian (under-16) Chess Championship in Kazhakstan is any indication. The girl, who started dabbling with the 64-squares game after watching her schoolmate collect a prize in 1999, seems to be on her way to stardom.

The Asian title is bound to rekindle all her energies and hopes. She gives credit to IM Lanka Ravi, for giving her invaluable tips both on-line and during his brief coaching stint earlier, for her success.

Rare spark

Ravi believes that Sahithi has that rare spark of a good player and is bound to go to places.

For this reason, he saw to it that this gifted, 13-year-old youngster is given the ONGC scholarship of Rs.10, 000 per month for the time being. "If she continues to excel at the highest level, there is every possibility of her getting this facility extended," he says.

For her part, Sahithi believes that she has to improve upon her opening game repertoire.

But what makes her a tough customer on the board is her middle-game mastery. It is said that if only she can avoid the tendency to come under time pressure this Gudivada girl is sure to carve a niche for herself very soon.

Sahithi is now preparing to participate in the World Youth Chess Championship next month in Georgia. .

IM norm

Not surprisingly, Sahithi, who called on Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday evening, requested for release of the dues of about Rs. 3 lakhs pending by way of incentives from Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and also help her in hiring a good coach. "This is the phase I believe she needs a full-time coach," says her father P. Sambasiva Rao.

Sahithi also earned the first IM norm, which is considered the first big step in the world of big league chess.

By all means, she seems in the mood to script a new chapter in the world of chess.

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