When it is time to make the right moves
JAIDEEP SHENOY
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Manasa and Viani are all set to participate in the Asian Chess Tournament
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Saying checkmate: Viani and Manasa (below)
The game of 64 squares has come a long way in Dakshina Kannada and the exploits of those playing it are many.
This is more than exemplified in the performance of Manasa K. and Viani Antonio D’Cunha from this port city, who have been selected by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) to represent India in the week-long Asian Youth Chess Championships to b
e held at the Teheran, Iran, from July 15.
State champion
Manasa was selected based on her performance in the national under 17 chess championship 2007 held at Puri, Orissa.
Manasa, a PUC student of Sharada PU College here has the credit of being the first woman chess player from the district to participate in the Asian Chess Tournament.
With a current FIDE rating of 1987, Manasa is the reigning Karnataka State Women Chess Champion.
According to office bearers of South Kanara Chess Association, Manasa is perhaps the first ever girl selected from Karnataka to take part in this prestigious event. Manasa will represent India in the under-18 girl’s category at Teheran along with her Indian Team mates R. Preethi and P. Uthra of Tamil Nadu. Manasa has the record for having participated in more than 125 chess tournaments and bagged many a prize as well.
Going for the gold
Some of her exploits include winning the national school chess team gold medals twice.
She is the daughter of Sudhakaran Kongot and N Geetha, both employed in Canara Bank, Mangalore.
Viani, another upcoming chess prodigy from this part of the state has been selected to compete in the under-16 open category.
Viani’s selection was facilitated based on his performance in the national sub-junior (under-15) chess championship 2007 held at Chennai.
Viani already has a rich experience of participation in international chess tournaments held in Dubai, Singapore. He last played in Spain.
Promising talent
Viani won the best under-14 and second prize of 150 Euros in the 2100-2200 FIDE rating category in the Sort Open International Chess Tournament held in Spain.
Viani is counted amongst the most promising chess talents in Karnataka and his current FIDE rating is an impressive 2114.
Having participated in more than 100 chess tournaments since the age of 5, Viani has many laurels to his credit.
His exploits include the national under-9 runner up title and the national school chess team gold medal.
An Std. VIII student of St. Aloysius High School, Mangalore, Viani is the son of Harold D ’Cunha who is working in a shipping firm in Dubai and Syble Lydia D ’Cunha, the secretary of the association.
A title triumph in the Teheran event will provide them the inspiration and motivation to further their fledgling careers.
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