Herald: Why do you like chess? What is that one thing that attracts you to chess from other sports?
Bhakti Kulkarni: Chess has become my life. It has been proved by research that Chess is a tool to develop personality. It increases your memory, your ability to face adverse things in your life. And contrary to general belief, it also needs tremendous physical fitness. So it is all in one game. No wonder I am attracted towards it.
H: As a kid, what was the driving force behind you taking up chess?
BK: I was a very frail child and when I realised that only in chess I could beat physically stronger and older people, I was attracted towards it.
H: When did you first learn chess?
BK: I learnt chess at the age of four and I was too young to remember. I played my maiden tournament at the age of five in Goa. I was too short to reach the pieces sitting on chair. So I played my first game playing on my mom’s lap. (see pic below)
H: Who was the person that got you into chess?
BK: It was my father who is a chess addict. He was a player in his college days. Whatever he could not achieve in his life, he tried to achieve through me.
H: Who was your greatest inspiration (role model) as a youngster?
BK: Paul Morphy – a world Champion around 1850 whose games are very attractive for beginners and of course Vishy Anand.
H: Which tournament was the turning point in your career?
BK: My Bronze medal in Asian Under-14 Girls Championship in Delhi in 2005 was the turning point as I qualified for the next edition in Iran in 2006. I won Gold in Iran to become first Goan to win Asian Championship.
H: How did you prepare for a tournament, does anybody help you?
BK: Initially my father used to help me but soon he realised that I needed a professional trainer if I wanted to progress. Fortunately we ran into Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale during a tournament in 2003. He agreed to coach me and then began my journey of International success.
H: How was the year so far and what are your plans for the current year?
BK: I have started 2017 by helping Air India team to win Gold Medal in National Team Championship at Bhopal. Thereafter it was my first place among women in Dubai International Open. Let us see how the year develops.
H: Whom would you like to dedicate your success to?
BK: I would like to dedicate my success to my family (for standing behind me during bad times), Shrinivas Dempo (for supporting me financially) and Gokhale sir for turning a simple Goan girl into an International Champion.
H: You have been making Goa proud. What more is left for you to achieve now?
BK: I have achieved the highest ever title of Grandmaster for women. I have also won Commonwealth and Asian Gold Medals. I know that World Championship is a distant dream but this year I have qualified for it and I want to give my best for it.
H: You were Goa’s first Woman Grandmaster. Tell us how you felt on being given the title.
BK: It was a dream come true for me. When I started playing chess, my father’s ambition was that I should represent India at least once. For that he took lot of efforts. Winning nationals, Asian, Commonwealth medals were just bonus for him. But claiming WGM title was an ultimate for him.
H: What are your plans? What is your long term goal?
BK: I am concentrating on preparing for the World Woman Championships. I do not keep long term goals- just go on improving myself. The titles come by themselves.
H: How does the future of Indian chess look like to you?
BK: The future of Indian chess is very bright. Former World Champion Anand is now not a force he used to be, but there are many who are ready to get into his shoes. GMs Adhiban, Vidit Gujrathi, Harikrishna…and so on. Among girls, there are Harika, Humpy.
H: Any advice for the youngsters who plan on pursuing their career in chess?
BK: My advice to the youngsters and their parents is start early and reach your goal early! Then sky is the limit. Physical fitness is also very important for chess.
H: Do you get support from the Government?
BK: Unfortunately the central government has not released my cash awards for several years. In spite of sending my applications many times over, my files are always missing. And these are the cash awards for winning medals in International tournaments. The amount is more than Rs 8 lakhs now. Writing to PMO has also not been helpful. I request the State government to take up the matter with Centre and release the same as it will be useful for my preparation for the World Championship.
