Sport - Chess

Another golden opportunity for norm-seekers
By Rakesh Rao

RAIPUR, MARCH 4. For years, several talented chess players in the country have suffered due to lack of timely opportunities to successfully chase norms, whether for Grandmaster or International Master titles. But at least this season, the players cannot complain on this count.

From Kozhikode to Bikaner and now Raipur, with Kolkata being the next stop - all in the space of less than four months - the norm-seekers never had it so good.

As compared to the events at Kozhikode in December and Bikaner last month, the field in the International Grandmasters open tournament for the Chief Minister's Trophy here is much tougher.

Conversely, with players from eight nations taking part, it will make things easier for the players to fulfill certain technicalities involved in completing the norm- formalities.

For over a decade, the Goodricke tournament in Kolkata remained the only regular norm-event on the Indian calendar. And if someone missed it for any reason, he or she had to wait either until the next year or raise finances in the meantime to go abroad in search of norms.

For once, the All India Chess Federation realised the need to create more such opportunities for our norm-seekers at home. Everyone is hoping that these events become a regular feature. Should it happen, this encouraging move will surely throw up some very delightful results.

Already, at Bikaner, 15-year-old Somak Palit made his maiden International Master norm, just as P. Magesh Chandran did later in the event. Harika Dronavalli, the National junior girls champion, was the other beneficiary as she claimed her first Woman International Master norm at the age of just 11 years and 47 days. However, R. B. Ramesh missed his second GM-norm by just half-a-point. Still, considering the limited number of overseas participants, it was good to see at least three youngsters gain so much.

Though Palit will not be playing here and Harika's name is yet to find a place in the list of participants, there are several others who will be eagerly looking forward to make the most of the opportunity over the next 11 days.

But first, about those in contention for the winner's cheque of Rs. one lakh.

Undoubtedly, K. Sasikiran will be eager to add another title to the four he has won in succession since December. The 21-year-old National champion is currently displaying the kind of consistency seen never before in his promising career. His rating may be 2569, but most players believe that he is performing like someone with a playing strength of 2650 !

Indeed, Sasikiran is reaping the harvest of some very hard work that he puts in daily.

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