It says… “The brain has no limits” and one can agree with the same when seeing millennials performing miraculously.
Victorious Chess Academy has been training a large number of students under its roof every year since its establishment in 2013. The knowledge seekers are constantly being guided by a team of highly efficient coaches. We believe students of the new generation are full of energy and have the ability to think faster than we can imagine. And our experience shows all kids who play chess are smart!
One such smart student from VCA family is Anirudh Daga who is just 12 years of age and lives in SINGAPORE. Anirudh had participated in a unique Christmas-New Year solving contest conducted by ChessBase India. To qualify for next level all the participants across the world had to solve six unconventional & engine-defying problems that got concluded in the last week of Dec’2020! his place among other qualifiers.
All participants sent their answers and only 17 were selected for the next level where Anirudh made his place among other qualifiers.
The competition was tough but Anirudh who wishes to challenge a World Chess Champion in future has won the Christmastide Puzzles!
Our Chief Creative Writer Mr. Lokesh Natoo managed to reach Anirudh to know more on winning the puzzle contest along with his passion for Chess, his dreams, chess training & so on…
ANIRUDH DAGA FROM SINGAPORE
Mr. Lokesh Natoo (LN): Firstly, Congratulations on winning such a unique & intense puzzle challenge, tell us something about it – how was it, what kept you going?
Anirudh Daga (AD) – Thank you, I’m usually very curious about things in general. I’m very fond of logical problems, mathematics, & of course Chess. I follow ChessBase India regularly & one day I came across with the challenge of 6 puzzles & instantly I realised, wow my last week of 2020 is going to be fun!Problems were demanding, made me think creatively & out of the box! I arranged the problem on the chess board. It was intense & I kept going back & forth with multiple trial and error sequences, possibilities. But like our Kapil Sir says, “Keep thinking about final dream position, once you know destination, path will be discovered”First 3 days, I was giving 15-20 mins a day to get into the problem. Then, I had to peak & give my everything at problems for the last 2 days for 2-3 insanely focused hours. So, in 4-5 hours I could find the winning way to solve all problems. Moment of satisfaction, a smile & some inner happiness!
L N: Wow! Seriously the way you described, I got goosebumps! Tell us about your chess routine & how puzzles help to improve?
A D – Puzzles help to improve your game a lot. It helps you to develop different scenarios on the board, enhances your logic & analytical thinking which is something I love to do. I make sure I solve chess puzzles at least on alternate days. Chess is part of everyday life, 1 hour minimum & weekend or holidays it’s 4-5 hours too!. I go through analysts of chess games and I do keep track of the latest chess news. So, I’m rooting for Hari in on-going Tata Steel Masters 2021!
White has a forced mate in 2, where is the black king?
(one of the puzzles from the competition)
L N: Who is your favourite chess player and chess format?
A D – Magnus Carlsen, he has multiple plans & also threats in the games & so much variety that he brings in! I have seen the 1st WCC – all games! Also, the last one – Carlsen vs. Caruana. I love the classical format of chess.
L N: Which is your favourite chess quote?
A D – There are many but the one I like the most is… “Play the opening like a book, the middlegame like a magician and the endgame like a machine” – Rudolph Spielman
L N: Some thoughts on World championships please.
A D -My favourite World Championship is Fischer vs Spassky due to everything that came in On and Off the board!
L N: Tell us about your journey and goal in chess?
A D – (smiles from his heart). So, I started playing Chess when I was 8 years old, with my initial rating of ELO 1200, I joined Victorious Chess Academy where Kapil Sir has been teaching me for past 3 years & (with a great and a humble smile) my rating climbed to 1878 in classical format. With Kapil Sir, I’m not only learning Chess, I’m also getting how to remain calm, be patient in most tempting moments. I admire him a lot and the entire Victorious family. It’s fun to have them around while I improve my chess!
… And Yes, I want to become a GM at brisk pace, possibly 75th GM from India!
Anirudh signs off with his refreshing talk and a huge aspiration that he has taken up. We all wish him speedy progress and soon to be a Grandmaster in chess!
Here is the link of puzzle competition conducted by Chessbase India – Watch Video
We all can follow Anirudh on his YouTube Channel – Watch Video
