It may be a bronze medal, but for the 13-year-old M. Sreeshwan, it is a special one as he clinched it in his maiden appearance in the just-concluded World youth chess championships in Mumbai.
And the young talent, who won both the Asian under-14 gold and the IM title this year, is quite pleased though he says he targeted gold and could have been better off with a silver (he was tied with the eventual second-placed player).
Financial constraints
In view of the financial constraints, the gifted Sreeshwan has to be content with online coaching with Ukraine GM Alexander Goloshchapov once a week as he cannot afford daily classes, which are expensive.
“Not many win a medal in their first attempt in any World Championship. I am satisfied with the performance,” said Sreeshwan in a chat with The Hindu on Sunday.
“I think my gamble of planning 10 moves ahead and missing a critical one in the process in the eighth round against Vo Pham Thein Phuc proved to be the turning point. I faltered from a winning position and was held to a draw. That forced me to play the next round in a must-win situation and the pressure was too much.”
‘Great experience’
“It was a great experience and a medal which will boost my confidence as I chase my next big dream of becoming a Grandmaster,” said the eighth standard student of Kennedy High The Global School (Bachupally).
What next? “I need to improve my attacking abilities even while shoring up my defence. I am happy with the way I am attacking despite being in a minus in some games. But, there are some positions which I hate on the board and consequently slip into time pressure. I just wish everything falls into place and I achieve my first objective of becoming a GM at the earliest.”
