The Hindu : Sport : It's a dream come true for Sasikiran

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Monday, Jan 01, 2007
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It's a dream come true for Sasikiran

Principal Correspondent

Photo: H. Satish

Krishnan Sasikiran.

KOZHIKODE: Krishnan Sasikiran couldn't have hoped for a better beginning to the new year. The Chennai-based Grandmaster (GM) has touched the magical 2700 mark in the latest FIDE-rating list.

Only one Indian has been there before — Viswanathan Anand. And when he achieved it 14 years ago, he was the just the eighth player to do so. So India finally has two players in one of the most exclusive clubs in international chess. There are just 21 players with a rating of 2700 or above in the January list of FIDE.

"This is a dream come true, really," a delighted Sasikiran told The Hindu on Sunday. "Something I have been dreaming about for the last four years. And I was expecting to make it in this list."

It is fitting that he has broken into the 2700-club after coming up with one of the best performances in his career — in Doha, where he captained India to the team gold in the first ever chess competition at the Asian Games.

He led India from the front, scoring eight points out of nine, playing on the top board.

"Doha was an unforgettable experience in many ways," he said.

"I thought all my games were good, except the one against Iran's Ehsan Ghaem Maghami."

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