Owing to financial constraints, Guntur chess whiz kid Bommini Mounika Akshaya almost did not make it to the ongoing 16th ASEAN age-group chess championships in Singapore.
But, timely help from the Andhra Cricket Association, which gave her Rs. 50,000, helped her take wing, and she has justified that faith by winning two gold medals – one individual and the other a team honour – in the tournament.
This Guntur girl bagged seven points from nine rounds to pocket the gold in the under-12 girls segment, and added 150 points to her rating.
“Now, her rating is 1765. With this victory, she will qualify for next year’s fixture. She has also been awarded the Women Fide Master (WFM) title,” says her father Rama Rao.
Mounika, a student of Bhashyam Blossoms, completed a grand double when the Indian girls’ team – also comprising Saina Salonika and Swarna Braganza – topped the points aggregate.
During her march to glory, Mounika lost only one match to Zhang Jasmine Haomo, a New Zealander, and drew with Bach Ngoc and Tran Nhat Phuong, both from Vietnam.
After showcasing her skills in the standard format of chess, Mounika will compete in the rapid and blitz formats on Tuesday and Wednesday.
So far, 2015 has been an eventful year for the Guntur girl.
She had finished 11{+t}{+h}in the standard and seventh in the blitz formats in the World School Championship in Thailand last month.
“Two major tournaments are awaiting Mounika. She will be taking part in the Commonwealth Chess Championship in New Delhi from June 20 and then the Asian under-13 championship at Seoul from August 3 to 11,” her coach Murali from Ponnur said.
Mounika will commute to Ponnur, 30 km from Guntur, daily to hone her skills with her coach, who was previously instrumental in shaping the career of Grand Master Lalith Babu.
Bommini Mounika Akshaya will now compete in rapid and blitz formats at 16th ASEAN age-group chess championships in Singapore
