PANJIM: Ameya Audi, current State junior chess champion as well as the State sub-junior chess champion has made a strong comeback after a year’s break due to academics and is looking to make an impact this season.
The master of the 64 squares is also the State’s first runner-up champion. Ameya has secured a gold medal in the under-15 category at his very first international tournament in Colombo chess festival.
At the age of 13, he defeated top seed players like Meteleno Yevgeniy of Russia (2110), Pranav Vijay of Tamil Nadu (2174) and Adv Swapnil Kothari of Maharashtra (2088) in the fifth Mumbai Mayor’s Cup.
In the Commonwealth chess championship, the young star stumped Goa’s chess prodigy Ivana Furtado (2103). He proceeded to win against WFM Kottepalli Sai Nirupama (1957) and drew with Sumit Grover (2013). Ameya stood ninth at the National amateur tournament, in Sangli.
At the seventh Mumbai Mayor’s Cup, Ameya outsmarted Asian under-12 chess champion Meher Chinna Reddy (2314), WGM Padmini Rout (2354) of Odisha and drew with Siva Mahdevan (2186) of Tamil Nadu.
In the recently concluded Tiswadi Taluka Chess Association’s FIDE Rating all-India tournament, he gave an excellent performance defeating Maharashtra’s IM Sameer Khatmale.
A student of Vidya Vikas Academy, Margao, Ameya has topped the CBSE X with CGPA 10. He has excelled in academics and in chess too.
“Simple, unassuming and ever smiling that is Ameya Audi, who has proved that excellence can be achieved in academics while participating in co-curricular activities and sports. Scoring a brilliant 10 CGPA at the CBSE board examination of class 10 and being an outstanding chess player in the State is no meager achievement.
Vidya Vikas Academy is proud of him. His qualities of head and heart come from his wonderful parents who have always supported him,” said Alan Rodrigues, Principal of Vidya Vikas Academy, Margao.
Ameya attributes his success to God and the strong support and backing from his family. His brother Saiesh is also an upcoming chess player. The young chess champion is eager to get a sponsor under whose banner he could win bigger laurels for the State and country.
