Little Master Enhances Pride Of The Nation

The youngest chess master faces new challenges to rise in the game.

- K.V. Venugopal

It was not surprising that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the performance of the new chess champion, R. Praggnanandhaa, after his incredible victory over the International Grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen, in an online rapid chess tournament recently.

It has become a customary practice for him to hail the display of sportspersons in general, of late, unlike his penchant for appreciating only some selected Opposition leaders like Gulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge in politics.

Being a prudent politician, the Prime Minister is aware that sports unites politics, although the adage would remind us that sport is a part of education. For instance, when it comes to sports, especially in cricket, the politicians would pefer to remain united, irrespective of their parties and ideologies.

The 16-year-old lad from Tamil Nadu has created a sensation with his incredible display and the game chess has produced a new IM after Viswanathan Anand, Harikrishna and a few others.

Interestingly, only Anand and Harikrishna had beaten Carlsen earlier and that speaks volume of Praggnanandhaa's credibility at the highest level.

More importantly, success did not go over his head when the boy with his down-to-earth attitude complimented his coach Ramesh and others, including his family for his stupendous victory.

Praggnanandhaa in an exclusive interview to a renowned daily, made it clear that he has a long way to go before becoming a force to reckon with in the international chess arena.

What is more, he did not attach importance to his victory but, on the contrary, made it known that he had beaten the formidable player only in an online event and would be pleased, if he could outwit him in an over-the-board tournament. .

He also expresses his love for cricket, similar to cricket fanatics in our country, but was candid enough to admit that he would have ended up as a cropper, had he attempted to become a cricketer.