Small Things, Big Picture!

Every pain, every difficulty hits us hard, but it also puts a seed for a better version of tomorrow. With pandemic around for the past year & a half, it’s been difficult to have over the board chess, but online chess has taken a huge upward pull.

What it has also made is, immense opportunity to play with top chess players which includes world top 10, past and current world chess champions too!

Under Meltwater online chess schedule, it had Asian Rapid where GM Gukesh, 15-year prodigy from India had a chance to play against World Champion Magnus Carlsen! Maybe a similar history of what we had in 2004, 13-year-old Magnus playing against world no. 1 & world chess champion then, GM Kasparov at Reykjavik Rapid tournament.

Wouldn’t you be thrilled to draw against a world chess champion when you are 15-year-old?

As the game progressed, it reached below position, an equal end game with Gukesh having only 10 sec on clock. It was a clear draw with repetition of moves.

Attitude makes all the Difference

In this position, Gukesh indicated, he wants to play on and can’t settle for a draw! Wow, that’s the attitude.

Challenge at hand under time pressure

This made Gukesh to hold an end game with pawn down. A tsk to do when you are 15, playing against the World Champion!

The World Champion holds a draw!

Looking at the overall game, it was quite clear, Gukesh had a good game and pushed it till the end. So, it’s the other way round, Carlsen holds Gukesh to a draw!

Expression Says a Lot

This was an online event, please ignore the quality of pictures here but see the depth of the expression and what message it gives to the chess world!

Few images during the game and after the draw was agreed. It was an experience to watch it live!

( Super focused and determined Gukesh )

( A draw with world champion and Gukesh is NOT HAPPY! )

( Gukesh is rather thinking I missed a WIN )

Not only Gukesh, but all young GMs say in the age bracket of 13 years to 18 years, are the ones who will challenge the likes of Carlsen, Caruana, Ding, Giri in next 4-5 years. Perhaps, these prodigies will take a shot at the world championship some-day.

What I’m trying to bring is, how people start differentiating themselves from the crowd, how they evolve. Also, how they inspire. Gukesh’s expression surely tells about his determination but also isn’t it that it motivates all of us to bring our best version? Push ourselves?

Such a great message on attitude, ability to push, not to give up, handling nerves, not cracking under pressure, rather go beyond for excellence! There is a famous saying, Life is about You vs. You and make sure a better You wins!

Recently concluded 44th Chess Olympiad at Chennai witnessed and add tremendous facts on this. Gukesh won Gold medal on board number one making sure team gets placed 3rd (ahead of India A team, US, Azerbaijan etc.) He won first 8 out of 8 matches with wins against great GMs like Caruana, Shirov & so on.

Gukesh D, on his way to collect Gold Medal on Board 1 in Chess Olympiad 2022

Icing on cake is, he crossed 2700 rating, (only 8th Indian to do so) & is currently India No. 2 only behind Anand! Below pic summarizes everything so well –

Few years back very young Gukesh (left) with Vishy. India No. 2 (Gukesh) getting Gold Medal from India No. 1 (Vishy)

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See what our online student says....

Anirudh Dhaga with indian flag in International Chess Tournament

I'm very happy to have an opportunity to learn from Kapil Sir and being a part of the VCA family.

I would like to give Kapil Sir 9.5 out of 10 as He says "There is always room for improvement!"