Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa’s chess maestro Anurag Mhamal received a grand welcome upon his arrival at Dabolim Airport, on Monday evening.
Anurag was greeted by Goa Chess Association members, budding players and large contingent of people who cheered Goa’s first Grand Master with loud chants and presented him with bouquets of flowers.
Anurag created history by becoming the first Goan Grand Master (GM), the highest title in the game of chess. He is the 48th Indian to achieve this feat. Anurag got to the GM title in style by surpassing the GM norms after spectacular performances in Macedonia and Spain.
“It’s a great feeling to be the first Goan to achieve this feat. But the success doesn’t stop here, I will work hard to make my state and the association more proud in future,” said the humble Anurag Mhamal.
“I would like to thank my parents, GCA president Nilesh Cabral, Secretary Kishor Bandekar and Dempo for their constant support and belief in me,” said the Goodwill Ambassador of Dempo, promoted by Devashri Real Estate Developers.
GM Anurag arrived in Goa on Monday after impressive performances in Spain where he played in 37th Benasque International Open at Spain where after 5 rounds of play he gained 4.4 Elo points and surpassed the 2500 rating in the live Elo list. Anurag ‘s present rating is 2477 and has gained 21 Elo points by winning 27th Open de Gros International at Spain just few days back.
Goa’s chess genius Anurag started playing chess at the age of 6 years and has many national and international tournaments in his kitty.
Anurag’s dad thanked all his coaches for mentoring and training his son to achieve this milestone.
“Akash Thakur from Nagpur trained Anurag vigorously which helped my son progress remarkably in chess. Akash initially also accompanied him in tournaments abroad. He was not only the coach but I can say mentor, guide and a very good friend to him and even till date he is always available for advice and help,” said Arvind Mhamal, the proud father of Anurag.
Besides Akash, he has also taken short term coaching from IM Vargues Khoshy, GM R B Ramesh, GM Praveen Thipse, IM Shashikant Kotwal, IM Satyapragyan on few occasions.
He also thanked the Dempo Group of Companies for making Anurag their Goodwill Ambassador and giving them the much-needed financial support.
“I would like to congratulate Anurag for becoming Goa’s first grandmaster, this is indeed a very proud moment for the entire state of Goa. GCA is looking to promote chess in a big way and support youngsters so that they too can follow in the footsteps of Anurag. Goa has a lot of talent and with the financial support from corporates and guidance from the association I’m sure the State will produce more grandmasters in the near future,” GCA president Nilesh Cabral
The criteria for the title is 3 GM norms and Anurag successfully qualified for the title by fulfilling the norms by winning the below mentioned tournaments. National Premier Chess Championship 2012 Kolkata, India, 32ndOpen International Cappelle la Grande 2016 Paris, France, Czech Open ‘A’International Chess Tournament 2016 Pardubice, Czech, Karpos Internationa Open Chess Tournament 2017 Skopje, Mecedonia and 27th Open de Gros International Chess Tournament 2017 at Spain.
DV Sundar (Vice President FIDE), Bharat Singh (Secretary AICF), Nilesh Cabral ( President GCA), Kishor Bandekar (Treasurer AICF), Mahesh Candolkar (Vice President GCA), Mr Ashesh Keni (Vice President GCA), Balakrishnan V, Dattaram Pinge , Ex Secretary Suhas Asnodkar and other office bearers of GCA and TTCA congratulated Anurag.
