Leon Mendonca has a charming way of speaking with a sparkle
in his voice. However, the moment he is in front of a chessboard, the game
becomes his sole focus. The eight year old is a student of class III at Sharada
Mandir School, Miramar and the son of Lyndon Listz Mendonca and Anita Sandhya
Estibeiro. What sets him apart from other kids is that he is the youngest in Goa
(at 7) to be conferred with the prestigious title of Candidate Master by the World
Chess Federation (fide) and currently remains the undisputed under 11 State
Chess Champion.
Leon took an interest in the game looking at his elder
sister Beverly play chess. “Beverly received a chess set as a birthday gift.
She was interested in learning the game and used to play and win many
competitions. However, her timings with swimming and chess classes were
clashing which forced her to give up chess a year back. Leon used to watch her
play and would sometimes make his own moves. It is a talent to play chess, a
gift, and for him, it turned into a passion,” says Lyndon who supports both his
children in their interests. “It all started with Leon wanting to defeat his
sister at the game,” he adds with a smile.
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Leon was the only Goan boy to secure a bronze medal at the
World Youth Chess Championship 2014 held from September 20 to 30, 2014 at
Durban, South Africa and the youngest boy in Goa to start an Elo Rating at the
age of six. His other achievements include a silver and a bronze medal each for
the standard and the rapid formats respectively at the 15th Asian Age Group
Championships at Macau with a record participation of 24 countries and a silver
and a bronze medal each for the standard and rapid formats respectively at the
9th Asian School Chess Championship 2013 in Sri Lanka. The title ‘Candidate
Master’ was conferred upon him based on his excellent performance at this
tournament.
“Leon has also received a silver medal at the 2nd National
Schools Chess Championship 2013 in the standard format and a bronze medal in
the standard format at the 2nd National Schools Chess Championship 2012 and at
the age of 7, he stood 9th in the merit list at the 27th National Under 9 Chess
Championship 2013 held in Chennai. He stood 5th in the merit list at the 28th
National Under 9 Chess Championship 2014 held at Pondicherry,” says Lyndon
proudly as his son shows his must-win attitude at chess.
Leon learns his chess moves online through chess tutorials hence
eliminating the need for chess coaching. With powerful tools at his hand, Leon
only uses the computer. “The win makes me feel happy and great and I only want
to move the pieces to crush my opponents,” concludes Leon.
