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By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR’S chess prodigy Raunak Sadhwani, who recently became city’s first and India’s 65th Grandmaster, said that its now time to celebrate the new milestone. Sadhwani, 13, created history after he achieved GM title at the FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss 2019 at Isle of Man, in United Kingdom.
Raunak became the ninth youngest chess Grandmaster in the world at 13 years, nine months and 28 days. He had kept “Champagne on Ice” as he wanted to concentrate on the tournament. He achieved the third GM norm and collected 2500 live rating points during the tournament. But after the tournament was over, the chess prodigy decided to celebrate his achievement.
Ranked 129th in the tournament which was heavily loaded with several world chess champions, Raunak finished at a creditable 71st position in the meet.
Before boarding a return flight to India, GM Raunak took to facebook to share his happiness.
“Grandmaster!! Happy to have achieved this New Milestone. 65th GM from India. Started the New Chess Board!! Played some good Chess, Time to Celebrate Now... Back to Home after the Fabulous FIDE chess.com Grand Swiss Event!!,” Raunak wrote on his facebook page.
The Centre Point School, Katol Road student also thanked India’s first Grandmaster and former World Champion Viswanathan Anand who had congratulated Raunak on micro blogging site twitter.
“Thank you so very much Anand sir. Your tweet made this memorable moment so very special!!,” thanked Raunak while posting his pictures and tweets of GM Anand.
GM Anand had congratulated Raunak on twitter after the tournament. “Congrats to Raunak Sadhwani! He starts the new chessboard of GM’s. Funnily, I once played him in simul and mentioned that he had great talent. A few years later at #IOMchess he has me on the ropes. And I thought this kid is just something else!!,” Anand lavished praise on Raunak.
The multiple-time world champion did not miss to congratulate Raunak’s mother Heena who saw Raunak achieving the GM title in flesh and blood.
“A big congrats to his mom. She watched him complete his norm with anxiety, love, excitement. It brought back so many memories. This is just the beginning!,” added Anand.
Raunak, who got training from Grand Master Abhijeet Kunte, did not forget to thank his sponsors Lakshya Sports and Sony Pictures & Network.
“Thank you so much Lakshya Sports & Sony pictures Network Ltd. for supporting me in a Big way !! Grateful !!,” he acknowledged.
Raunak’s proud mother Heena was also elated and she also took to facebook to congratulate her Grandmaster kid.
“Heartiest Congratulations!! Grandmaster Raunak Sadhwani !! Very Impressive Performance !! You Amazes Us Everytime !! Be Blessed !! Grandmaster mom# super proud,” she posted on her facebook page from Manchester airport.
By Paritosh Pramanik
TALENTED boxer of city Alfiya Akram Pathan punched above her weight to win gold medal at the ASBC Asian Junior Championships 2019 at Fujairah, Dubai, UAE, on Friday. After missing the gold medal by a whisker at Serbia meet earlier this year, Alfiya made it sure she did not miss it this time.
Participating in 80+ weight category, 16-year-old Alfiya thrashed Magauyayeva Diana of Kazakhastan to clinch the yellow metal with utmost ease.
Alfiya, who earlier won a silver and a bronze at Serbia, had a bye in the first round and met the Kazakh opponent in the final bout which she won hands down with a 5-0 favourable verdict.
Being the last tournament for her in junior category, Alfiya made most of the opportunity. She was eager to leave the junior category on a promising note which she did with a gold medal.
Alfiya, whose father Akram works with City Police Department, was extremely happy with her gold winning performance.
“I am super happy with my performance. This gold means a lot to me. I have worked really very hard for this. Today, my hard work paid off. Being away from home (she practised at SAI Rohtak) and training day in day out...for this piece of gold. It means a lot,” Alfiya told ‘The Hitavada’ from Dubai.
“The experience of playing the Asian championship was great. This was my last year in junior category. For me it was a major competition before I changed my category. I gained lot from this tour and it will definitely help me in youth category,” said Alfiya.
Alfiya said, though she played only one match, the competition was tough. It was a tough game. But I played as per plan and waited for my opportunities. I was waiting for this competition for the last two years. It did not take place last year. I wanted to make sure I did not miss on this opportunity. Aman (coach Amanpreet) mam trained me well for this tournament. Now I will have to work much harder in the youth category. I want to win many more medals for the country,” she said.
Alfiya thanked all those who helped her in her journey. I want to thank my parents. My father really worked very hard, spent a lot of time on me to see me reach this level. My formative days’ coach Ganesh Purohit, Aman madam, my personal trainer Guddu Thakur....all have worked really hard on me at Khelo India camp. I would like to thank all of them from the bottom of my heart.” said Alfiya.
Jay Kowli, President of Maharashtra Boxing Association, Sajjad Husain, Vice-President, Porus Kotwal, Secretary, The Nagpur District Boxing Association, selectors Captain Gopal Dewang, Captain Jayram, Dayashankar Tiwari, President, NCBA congratulated Alfiya.
First from Nagpur, second from Vid after Amravati’s Swapnil Dhopade, to earn GM title
By Paritosh Pramanik
RAUNAK Sadhwani was calmly sleeping in his hotel room in Isle of Man, near Manchester in United Kingdom, when his coronation as the new chess Grandmaster started making rounds in world chess circle.
At 5.30 am (UK time), Raunak’s mother Heena first got the news of her son being awarded the GM title. She was over the moon but at the same time did not want to disturb Raunak’s sleep.
“He (Raunak) is still unaware about the GM title...he is still sleeping and I don’t want to disturb him,” an elated Heena Sadhwani told ‘The Hitavada’ from UK.
Raunak, all of just 13 years achieved the required third GM norm after he played outstanding draws against world’s higher rated Grand Masters at the ongoing FIDE chess.com Grand Swiss 2019, thus becoming 9th youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess. Raunak, son of Bharat and Heena, is first from Nagpur and second from Vidarbha after Amravati’s Swapnil Dhopade, to claim the GM title, India’s 65th.
In Round One Raunak stunned Russian GM Sanan Sjugirov (elo 2662) to set the ball rolling. After that the Centre Point School, Katol Road, student played some favourable draws against big names in world chess. He split point with Russian GM Karjakin Sergey (elo 2760), Indian GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (2658), Croatian GM Saric Ivan (2667), Ukrainian GM Eljanov Pavel (2663), Hungarian GM Peter Leko (2670), a two-time World Championship Candidate and Armenian GM Sargissian Gabriel (2690) to cross the live rating of 2500 points.
Raunak’s scintillating performance forced the world to sit up and take notice of his exquisite talent.
After the end of Round Eight, the 13-year-old has four points from one win and six draws and a loss. Raunak needed 3.5 rating points from nine rounds in the competition to claim the third norm and he achieved it with élan. As he has collected 3.5 rating points, Raunak now only needs to appear for the next one round to be officially crowned as Grandmaster, which is just a formality now.
Raunak, who got a wild card entry in this tournament as the best junior player from India, achieved his first GM norm at the Aeroflot Open 2019 followed by his second GM norm at the Porticcio Open 2019.
According to chessbase.in website, Raunak is known for his tactical acumen, but at the same time he has the ability to play extremely solid chess as he is showing at the Grand Swiss 2019.
Born on December 22, 2005, Raunak has achieved the feat of becoming a GM at the tender age of 13 years 9 months and 26 days.
Raunak’s phenomenal rise can be attributed to his training stint with former World Champion Vladmir Kramnik a couple of months ago. Along with seven others from India, Raunak was part of the Kramnik Microsense India Chess Program that was organised by ChessBase India. The coaching he received from the chess legend sharpened his game.
“A big thanks to World Champion GM Vladmir Kramnik sir, his teaching is simply superb who changed my game totally and made me psychologically strong as well. I also want to thank my coach GM Swapnil Dhopade for his strong belief in my playing strength,” Raunak said from UK.
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Raunak is playing like Anand: IM Deshmukh
n By Paritosh Pramanik
IT WAS way back in 2014 in Pune when Nagpur’s first chess International Master Anup Deshmukh had predicted that Raunak Sadhwani would become a Grandmaster. At that time, Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Kunte had laughed off at Deshmukh’s prediction.
Sadhwani, who was barely nine years old then, had spark in his game which had attracted Deshmukh’s candid view at that time.
Today, Deshmukh’s prediction came true when Sadhwani became India’s 65th Grandmaster at FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss 2019 in Isle of Man, in United Kingdom.
“It’s a very proud news not only for Nagpur but for entire India. Getting GM title at the age of 13 is not an easy thing. Sadhwani is playing like Viswanathan Anand at the moment. He is holding world title holders and grandmasters which is very creditable,” said Deshmukh while talking with ‘The Hitavada.’
Deshmukh, who has coached Sadhwani in his formative days, recalled when Raunak would come up with excellent games.
“He was a quick and sharp learner. Since he was 5-6 years old, I am analysing his game. At that time only I was aware that Sadhwani would get the GM title,” Deshmukh, who has played for India on several occasions, said.
“Raunak’s is a steady progress. The way he is playing at present is much bigger achievement than the GM title.
“Holding higher rated players is no mean thing. And remember, they all are world and European champions. He is playing in elite circle.
“They way Raunak is playing reminds me of Anand’s early days. He too used to hold top rated players. Raunak is also doing the same thing,” added Deshmukh.
“I am sure he would cross the 2600 (elo rating) mark within no time now. He is a very gritty player. Never likes losing. These qualities will take him to the top of chess world,” Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh feels that Raunak should now go for more wins, than draws.
“Raunak has to take himself out of fear of losing. He generally plays safe and goes for draws. But now that GM title is won, he should play a bit more attacking game,” felt Deshmukh.
“I am sure he will win much more accolades in years to come,” Deshmukh concluded.
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Happy with GM title, but want to become world champion: Raunak
n Principal Correspondent
CHESS wizard Raunak Sadhwani, who became the 65th Grandmaster of India, was elated by achieving his “short term goal” but wants to put the champagne on ice for a few more days until the tournament, FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss 2019, finishes. He said his ultimate dream is to become a world champion. “Of course I am very happy to achieve my short term goal of becoming a GM but, still, my tournament is not over yet. I want to focus on my remaining four rounds and then will celebrate.”
Sadhwani said he is happy to fulfill his parents dream but wants to continue winning every tournament and becoming a world champion.
“I am happy for fulfilling my parents’ dream of becoming a GM. But my ultimate goal is to break my own records everyday and become a world champion,” a release from Raunak’s mother Heena stated.
Sadhwani took the opportunity to thank his parents, coaches and well wishers who worked hard for his success.
“I want to thank my parents who worked tirelessly for me. I am very fortunate to have such parents in my life. I have no words for the sacrifices they made for me. I want to thank my sponsors Lakshya Sports and Sony Production for their financial support.
“I also want to thank my School (Centre Point School, Katol Road) for always supporting me in each and every situation,” Sadhwani said. His parents—Bharat and Heena—are over the moon. They are happy that Nagpur now has its own GM. “We are very happy on our son’s greatest achievement. Now, Nagpur has got its own GM. His hard work is paying off. Hope he will continue his form and achieve bigger heights as sky is the only limit. Playing consistently against strong opposition is not an easy job but he is giving his best and we are super proud of him,” Raunak’s mother Heena said.
