The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Lalith in search of a sponsor

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Monday, Jul 28, 2008
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Lalith in search of a sponsor

VIJAYAWADA: Despite the stupendous show in the recently-concluded international rating tournament in Spain, city-based chess player M. R. Lalith Babu is dejected, for the much-needed sponsorship is yet to come his way to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a Grandmaster.

Lalith took part in three tournaments in Spain held in a span of one month and finished ninth in the Balaguer International Open tournament. He also won the under-16 title and best player trophy in the 2300-2399 rating group.

“The Spain trip came as a boon as Lalith was selected by Sports Authority of India (SAI) under the foreign exposure scheme for emerging champion in the National under-17 boys’ chess championship at Kozhikode in 2007. He needs 20-odd points to become an International Master and another 120 points achieve the two GM norms to become a Grandmaster,” said Lalith’s mother M. Padma here on Sunday.

To achieve the two GM norms Lalith needed to play as many rating tournaments both in India and abroad and he needed a sponsor to meet the expenses, she said. “We could not afford GM coaching due to financial constraints.”

Sixteen-year-old Lalith, under the watchful eyes of his coach G. Murali Krishna, will be fine-tuning his openings and middle game for the coming rating tournaments — Abu Dhabi open tournament, National ‘B’ and Commonwealth championship. “Lalith has the ability to become a Grandmaster by the year-end. If that happens he will be the third GM along with P. Harikrishna and Koneru Humpy in Andhra Pradesh,” said the coach. — Sports Reporter

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