Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Making the right moves
|
M. Satvik is just eight years old, but his performance on the chess circuit is being billed way above his age
|
YOUNG AMBITION M. Satvik: `I wish to become an International Master and maybe a Grand Master, but I also want to study well' PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.
Eight-year-old M. Sativk looks like any other ordinary kid next door. He is a little shy, but inquisitive and playful. But give the youngster a chessboard there is a total transformation in his demeanour. He is all focus and plots his every move like a seasoned professional, and elements like time and space stay still as Satvik strives for a checkmate.
No wonder the young lad from Bangalore has emerged as one of the top three players in his age group, under-8, in Asia. Satvik's moment of glory came 10 days ago in the Asian Youth Chess Championship at Teheran, where he claimed a bronze. He was the only boy from Karnataka among other Indian kids to figure in a podium finish.
Satvik, with a FIDE rating of 1940, is the second youngest player in the world to be ranked on the FIDE list. He gave an indication of his form when he won the national under-10 and under-8 titles at Sangli in May. He simply sustained that momentum with a good showing at Teheran.
"Playing without my coach at Teheran was little difficult, but I had my laptop on which I have saved enough data base on major games. Studying them, helped me. The tournament was a nice experience, though taxing at times," says Satvik, who often played over four to five hours and it speaks volumes of the young lad's tenacity.
Starting early
He took up the game as early as a four-year-old. His mother Chandrika was a good player herself but the major inspiration for him came from his elder brother M. Suraj who is a noted national and State player.
"Suraj's clutch of trophies and medals inspired him and Suraj too was willing to help him," says R. Muralidhar, his father, clearly pleased with his second son's achievement. "I was sure that he was destined to do something big after watching him win consistently at State level tournaments."
If one looks at his track record, it is easy notice how Satvik has so far dominated the under-8 category. The former State champion and national `A' player, Arvind Shastry, who coaches Satvik pins lot of hopes on his ward.
"He plays a sound and tactical game, and of course there are rough edges, which we want to polish. Though he is pretty young, he has the potential to beat some of the top players," says Shastry.
Satvik, a student of Poorna Prajna Education Society's school in Sadhashivnagar also is a class topper.
"Luckily both our boys have not ignored their studies. Both score over 90 per cent and at the same time excel in the sport," says Dr. Muralidhar.
It is common to find huge parental pressure on young achievers. But Dr. Muralidhar and Dr. Chandrika have left the choices to their children. "It is too early what the future holds for Satvik, but if he is determined to become a champion, we are not going stand in his way."
As far as Satvik is concerned, he wishes to settle for nothing less. "I wish to become an International Master and maybe a Grand Master, but I also want to study well," he beams.
"We will monitor his progress and decide what best can be done in future. At a later stage he may need to train under an International Master or get into a programme run by the All India Chess Federation for young achievers," says Shastry.
KALYAN ASHOK
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
