IMAGE: Leon Mendonca, who achieved the feat at 14 years, 9 months and 17 days, is the second chess Grandmaster from Goa. {Photograph}: Variety courtesy, Sunway Sitges Worldwide Chess Competition 2020
Goa’s 14-year-old Leon Mendonca has turn into India’s 67th chess Grandmaster by profitable the third and last norm at a event in Italy.
Mendonca, who achieved the feat at 14 years, 9 months and 17 days, is the second GM from the coastal state.
The participant achieved his first GM norm on the Rigo Chess GM Spherical Robin in October whereas the second got here on the 1st Saturday occasion in Budapest in November and the ultimate one on the Vergani Cup in Italy.
On the Vergani Cup in Bassano del Grappa, he completed second with 6.5 factors behind Ukraine’s Vitaliy Bernadskiy (7 pts).
Mendonca and his father Lyndon had been stranded in Europe in March within the wake of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown and journey restrictions.
They noticed a chance in it and took half in a number of tournaments with an intention of reaching the GM title. Within the 9 months from March to December, Mendonca performed in 16 tournaments and, from an ELO ranking of 2452 factors, improved to 2544.
Mendonca stated he’s delighted to turn into a GM and thanked those that supported him by way of thick and skinny.
“Yeah.. I’m delighted to turn into a GM. It has come after loads of exhausting work. I am unable to thank a number of folks together with my mother and father, coach Vishu Prasanna and sponsors for the success,” he stated.
The Goa teenager had taken half in a camp organised by Microsense in Chennai late in 2019 when former world champions Vladimir Kramnik and Boris Gelfand skilled quite a few Indian gamers.
After the second GM norm was achieved, his father had stated, “It has been difficult to remain in Europe and for him to compete in occasions. Now we have been staying in Airbnb rooms.
“Additionally, it has been troublesome to plan for tournaments as a result of uncertainty. But it surely has been a rewarding one although.”
Chennai participant G Akash, had in July, turn into the nation’s 66th Grandmaster.
