TEAM HERALD
Sports @herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Woman Grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni finished her three-nation tour of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary on high note by clinching the second place in the First Saturday International Chess Tournament, at Budapest, Wednesday.
Bhakti was the only unbeaten player in this nine round tournament.
“I was satisfied with my performance because I outsmarted ultimate Champion Gergo Havasi in one of the best games of the tournament,” said the Goan star, who recovered from high attitude sickness before the Budapest event.
Ten players from USA, England, Vietnam, Hungary and India participated in the invitation event. Bhakti recovered from high attitude sickness suffered at Tatry Open played at High Tatras, one of Slovakia’s highest towns.
“I just could not breathe, once I reached at Tatras. But few emergency medicines prevented further complications,” Bhakti remembered.
“I refused to withdraw from the tournament on health grounds though my rating suffered. Coming to lower attitude at Budapest was enough to rejuvenate the former Commonwealth Junior Girls Champion.
Bhakti’s next tournament will be Chennai International Women Grandmasters Tournament starting November 6.
