Nona still motivates herself

By Rakesh Rao

NEW DELHI, NOV. 25. A good 42 years separate Nona Gaprindashvili and Etienne Bacrot. One, a proud Georgian who in 1978 became the first woman to be awarded the men's Grandmaster title. The other, a French who held the distinction of becoming the youngest Grandmaster in 1997.

Chess, obviously is the common thread between these two players with different goals at two different stages of their lives.

Nona, at 59, may not have the drive which she once had but is still around as the 24th seed in the 61-player women's field. Barcot, less than two months away from turning 17, is here to ``do well'' in these World championships.

Nona, who held the world title for 16 years from 1962, is set to have another crack at the crown. Though she is not one of the serious contenders, her experience should prove the key. A product of the old Soviet school of chess, Nona faces fellow countrywomen Inga Khurtsilava in the first round.

Looking back, Nona says that chess was in the right hands during the Communist regime and ``it was easy for chess players then. We were looked after well and those who did well were more popular.''

It is truly amazing how Nona still manages to motivate herself after these years. ``I do not get to play much nowadays. I used to practice for five to six hours, sometimes even the whole day, but now it is not the same. Still, when you are analysing a position, time just flies,'' says Nona who now heads the Georgian Chess Federation as well, yet finds time to play with her five- year-old grandson.

Presently enjoying a rating of 2390 - more than any Indian woman till date - Nona will always be remembered for her unprecedented achievement in 1977. She became the first woman to win a title in a men's event. She tied for the first place at Lone Pine. Later, a perfume was named after here in the Soviet Union.

If Nona's best is clearly behind her, Barcot is looking forward to realising the promise he showed while winning the world under- 10 and under-12 titles before breaking the record set by Peter Leko of Hungary and becoming the youngest GM at 14 years and two months in March 1997.

``I want to do well here,'' says Barcot on his first visit to India. ``In 1997, I was given a special entry as I was the youngest Grandmaster. This time I have made it,'' is how the teenager puts it.

Talking about the format, Barcot is happy with these ``mini battles.'' He says, ``anything can happen in any match. I don't see any pre-match favourite in such a format. Preparation is always important and I am happy with mine.''

Barcot, whose trainer Joseph Dorfman once said, ``Etienne understands his fate; I think he was born to bury Kasparov,'' also has a 5-1 victory over former World champion Vassily Smyslov in the six-match exhibition match in September 1996.

Barcot's 42-year-old father Stephene says his son's meteoric rise has not surprised him one bit.

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