The Indian teams are the sole leaders in the open and women’s sections after six rounds of the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Five more rounds are to be played. In this exclusive chat with RevSportz, Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua shares his thoughts on India’s chances. A gold medallist on the second board in the Chess Olympiad played in Novi Sad in erstwhile Yugoslavia in 1990, Barua is in Budapest as the head of the Indian delegation.
Q: What has been the standout feature of the Indian campaign so far?
A: This shows that India has become a super strong chess country in the true sense. We are topping the table in both segments. In the open section, we are doing this despite the absence of Viswanathan Anand. To be on top after more than half the competition is over is no mean feat. Our players are displaying aggression and confidence. It’s evident that other teams are afraid of our players. To be doing it consistently has been the highlight so far.
Q: How different is a team event like this, compared to individual tournaments? In chess, there are not many competitions where players have to perform as a team.
A: You have to perform as a team, as is obvious from the definition of team events. Team bonding is of utmost importance and it’s essential to go by the decisions the captain takes. For example, you may be dropped from the four (out of the five players, four play in each round) after you win the previous round. Similarly, you may be asked to play after you suffer a defeat. You have to be prepared to make sacrifices for the team’s sake. If you see that you are in a winning position if you take risks and the team needs a draw, you have to do that. You may have to play with black pieces in three successive games. Individual priorities don’t get preference. One has to adapt and adjust according to the team requirements. In 1990, I was assured of gold on the second board before the final round and I wasn’t keen to play. The team wanted me to and I did.
Q: Now that the business end is nearing and India will take on the stronger teams, how important is going to be the pressure factor?
A: It’s going to be huge. How they handle pressure will be a significant factor. The advantage for us in the open section is, we are full of youngsters. They are not afraid of anybody. They are energetic and should be refreshed after the rest day. China in the open section and Georgia in the women’s section are formidable opponents (in Round 7). It’s significant that Ding Liren of China (defending world champion) is not playing in this round. However, it will only get tougher from now on, and our players must remain calm, like they have so far. They have done very well and must stay focussed. I am expecting medals for sure, whether it’s gold or not, we have to wait and watch.
Q: What about the move to field Arjun Erigaisi on the third board? He is the highest-rated Indian and was expected to play the top board…
A: In team events like these, you need a shooter, or scorer, in other words. You need someone who will get you the wins. The job of the player on the top board is to hold. After that, you have to have players who will convert the chances. Arjun is a perfect choice for the third board in that sense. Again, we have to think from the team’s perspective here. Not about individual preferences. Arjun is in form and he is far (more) highly rated than most third-board players from other nations. This has been the team strategy and he has been exceptional so far.
Q: What makes this new generation of Indian players so special and different from their immediate predecessors?
A: The first thing is they are confident and aggressive. They are very well prepared. And preparation is a massive thing in chess. Other than that, they have benefited from the company of Anand. A few of them train at the academy in Chennai, Anand is associated with. When they require, they can seek his help. That has been crucial in this rapid progress made by a number of them. Anand is expected in Budapest later today and I am sure his presence will boost our players in several ways.
To stay updated on other sports have a look into :
This is a work of fiction. But is there a football fan in India who doesn’t wonder what must be going through #AnwarAli’s mind as he navigates one of the toughest phases of his topsy-turvy career?
A RevSportz Comment!#MohunBaganSG #EastBengalhttps://t.co/MPWYbhGyKI
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) September 18, 2024
For more sports content: https://revsportz.in/