Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Sadhwani to learn ‘secret lessons’ from chess legend Kramnik




Flies to Switzerland along with five other Indians for Kramnik-Microsense Chess Training Programme

By Paritosh Pramanik

CITY’S International Master Raunak Sadhwani will be sharpening his brain and will also be learning some ‘secret lessons’ from none other than 
former world chess champion Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik when he attends the Kramnik-Microsense Chess Training Programme in Switzerland.
Kramnik will be imparting advanced coaching to six Indian chess players which includes four GMs and two IMs. Thirteen-year-old Sadhwani, a student of Centre Point School, Katol Road, was selected on the basis of his recent performance where he won several medals and earned plaudits from chess greats. 
The training programme, which is organised by Microsense, a Chennai-based company, will be held from August 14 to 25.
Continuing his rich form, Sadhwani finished a creditable sixth in the HOC-Al Sayyah II International Blitz Championship held at Shatha Tower, Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday and won a cash prize of 2000 Dirhams.
Sadhwani, who has earned two GM norms, was over the moon when he received an invitation from none other than former world chess champion GM Kramnik for enhanced training at Switzerland.
“It’s unbelievable. Getting trained by a legend like Kramnik is something once in a lifetime thing,” said Sadhwani who flew for Switzerland from Mumbai on Tuesday midnight.
According to a report in IANS, it was Kramnik’s idea to train budding Indian players and share his knowledge.
“I am now retired from chess and not playing competitively anymore, but it means a lot to me if I can share my knowledge with the most promising juniors who can achieve something big in the future,” the former world champion had told IANS.
During the first session, Kramnik would try to get to know the players personally and answer the questions that they have on their minds.
Sadhwani has prepared a list of questions he would be asking the legend. “Kramnik is a real master in opening preparation. I will ask him how to create new ideas, how to choose openings according to opponents, time management, etc,” said Sadhwani.
During the programme, Kramnik will be training the players in opening, middle and end game.
“We will be touching upon all the aspects of the game including opening, middlegame and the endgame. I am preparing very seriously for the camp. I will give my insights on how I prepare psychologically and professionally for chess tournaments and I would share with them my views on many issues of professional chess,” IANS quoted Kramnik as saying.
During the training, Kramnik will also be sharing game secrets which only top players are aware of because of their experience of playing chess at the highest level apart from delivering game specific lectures.
“I will also prepare some specific lectures for the camp and allow the kids to play with each other and then later analyse these games in detail,” Kramnik added.
Kramnik will first go through the games of participants in detail so that the camp turns out to be effective.
Raunak’s mother Hina, too, was elated for his son’s selection. “His hardwork is paying off. Raunak has really worked hard to reach this far. Getting coaching from Kramnik in itself is a great honour. I am sure he will return from Switzerland more sharper. The nine-day training will definitely take his game to the next level,” said Hina.

The other five players include GMs D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, P Iniyan, Arjun Erigasi and International Master Leon Mendonca.

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