PAINTING LESSONS FOR DIVYA
CHESS MASTERS APPEAL CITIZENS TO STAY AT HOME
Principal Correspondent
THE nationwide lockdown might not have affected these city chessmasters as they usually enjoy the company of computers or chess boards and are mostly confined to their rooms. But, surely they know the importance of social distancing and self isolation during this critical period.
The COVID-19 has claimed more than 21,000 lives world over and the best thing to keep the virus at bay is to stay at home. India is under 21-day lockdown and authorities are urging citizens to stay at home.
City’s only Grandmaster Raunak Sadhwani, International Masters Divya Deshmukh and Sankalp Gupta are enjoying the forced but important break from their routine, staying at home with their families.
Raunak and Divya are globetrotting chess players. In last 12 months they might have played more than a dozen international tournaments. But at this time of crisis, they prefer to remain confined to their homes.
“The world is in a critical condition. We all have to accept it and fight with this disastrous virus. This lockdown is very important for everyone’s safety,” Sadhwani said while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.
The youngest Shiv Chhatrapati award winner requested all to abide Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to stay at home to stay safe. “I request everyone, as responsible citizens, to follow and respect the decisions of our beloved PM. It is for our good.”
Not the one to sit idle on a couch, Sadhwani is practicing on computers to improve his game.
“I am practicing and using this time to improve my game. I am also reading some chess books like ‘Mind Master’ and ‘Deep Thinking’ by the great GM Gary Kasparov and studying the games of the legends,” said Sadhwani.
“I am also spending some time with my younger brother,” he added.
Giving example of Viswanathan Anand on how he won the world title, Sadhwani said, Vishy sir (Viswanathan Anand) faced so many problems before his world championship match against Topalov. But he did not panic and emerged a world champion. So, this is not the time to panic but to have patience, it’s just a matter of time.”
Woman International Master Divya Deshmukh, too, is relishing the forced break by spending time at home. Like Sadhwani she too has played around 25 tournaments in the past one year.
“I am enjoying the forced break. But I am, as usual, playing and practicing on computers. Trying to improve my game,” said Divya. Divya now has to work a bit hard as she has slipped in rankings.
“I have to work hard as I have to improve my rankings,” she said.
Apart from chess, Divya is trying her hands at drawing and paintings. Though she is not an expert, she is trying to be one.
Newly crowned International Master Sankalp Gupta stays in a joint family and is using the break by playing cricket in their compound apart from board games.
“I have a joint family, we are playing cricket, board games, watching shows, movies. Apart from that I’m practicing chess also and learning new openings,” said Gupta.
“For at least 4-5 hours I play chess online, check new openings, studying middle game and endgames,” he added.
Till Wednesday, Gupta was following Candidates Chess but it was called off by the Russian organisers due to coronavirus.
“I was following candidates tournament but unfortunately it got called off,” added Gupta.
Gupta also requested Nagpurians to stay at home to stay safe. “This is very critical time. If we follow the rules we will be safe, if not, only God knows what will happen. I request all citizens to stay at home till April 15,” he signed off.
CHESS MASTERS APPEAL CITIZENS TO STAY AT HOME
Principal Correspondent
THE nationwide lockdown might not have affected these city chessmasters as they usually enjoy the company of computers or chess boards and are mostly confined to their rooms. But, surely they know the importance of social distancing and self isolation during this critical period.
The COVID-19 has claimed more than 21,000 lives world over and the best thing to keep the virus at bay is to stay at home. India is under 21-day lockdown and authorities are urging citizens to stay at home.
City’s only Grandmaster Raunak Sadhwani, International Masters Divya Deshmukh and Sankalp Gupta are enjoying the forced but important break from their routine, staying at home with their families.
Raunak and Divya are globetrotting chess players. In last 12 months they might have played more than a dozen international tournaments. But at this time of crisis, they prefer to remain confined to their homes.
“The world is in a critical condition. We all have to accept it and fight with this disastrous virus. This lockdown is very important for everyone’s safety,” Sadhwani said while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.
The youngest Shiv Chhatrapati award winner requested all to abide Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to stay at home to stay safe. “I request everyone, as responsible citizens, to follow and respect the decisions of our beloved PM. It is for our good.”
Not the one to sit idle on a couch, Sadhwani is practicing on computers to improve his game.
“I am practicing and using this time to improve my game. I am also reading some chess books like ‘Mind Master’ and ‘Deep Thinking’ by the great GM Gary Kasparov and studying the games of the legends,” said Sadhwani.
“I am also spending some time with my younger brother,” he added.
Giving example of Viswanathan Anand on how he won the world title, Sadhwani said, Vishy sir (Viswanathan Anand) faced so many problems before his world championship match against Topalov. But he did not panic and emerged a world champion. So, this is not the time to panic but to have patience, it’s just a matter of time.”
Woman International Master Divya Deshmukh, too, is relishing the forced break by spending time at home. Like Sadhwani she too has played around 25 tournaments in the past one year.
“I am enjoying the forced break. But I am, as usual, playing and practicing on computers. Trying to improve my game,” said Divya. Divya now has to work a bit hard as she has slipped in rankings.
“I have to work hard as I have to improve my rankings,” she said.
Apart from chess, Divya is trying her hands at drawing and paintings. Though she is not an expert, she is trying to be one.
Newly crowned International Master Sankalp Gupta stays in a joint family and is using the break by playing cricket in their compound apart from board games.
“I have a joint family, we are playing cricket, board games, watching shows, movies. Apart from that I’m practicing chess also and learning new openings,” said Gupta.
“For at least 4-5 hours I play chess online, check new openings, studying middle game and endgames,” he added.
Till Wednesday, Gupta was following Candidates Chess but it was called off by the Russian organisers due to coronavirus.
“I was following candidates tournament but unfortunately it got called off,” added Gupta.
Gupta also requested Nagpurians to stay at home to stay safe. “This is very critical time. If we follow the rules we will be safe, if not, only God knows what will happen. I request all citizens to stay at home till April 15,” he signed off.
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