For Aditya Savalkar and his family, a junior Chess player from
Kolhapur and a humble background, despite the common belief-talent and skills
were not enough for success, Chess not being a spectator sport and the elite
game tends to be very costly, in resources for professional training and more
than anything to play in major tournaments that allows one to showcase their
talents, often the entry fees combined with accommodation leave many like
Aditya unable to participate despite possessing the potential and the merit.
With a current international rating of 1483 elo points Aditya has
many titles to boast about his chess prowess, however the best of Adityas
performance was his impressive 6th position in the 1000 plus odd chess players
in the C category of India’s biggest rating chess tournament that concluded
recently at new delhi. Where he showed the first signs of a great player in the
making, fighting against all odds to achieve his goal.
Aditya savalkar in action at Nationals U-11,Chattisgarh
Even as the cabinet in Aditya's house overflows with trophies
and medals there is one trophy which is missing from the colossal collection,
the crown jewel of any Indian Chess player, a National's Championship, for
Aditya however this is a distant dream as he has never been able to play at a
Nationals tournament since he started playing in tournaments due to lack of
funds and resources. And it has been his dream to sit
in the hall of champions, since the day he moved his first Chess piece, inspired
by his sister, mayuri who also plays competitive chess and has an international
rating! Earning them the nickname as the chess siblings of Kolhapur.
Aditya was initiated to chess by his father at the age of 6, after
learning the basics within no time he soon beat his father, seeing the spark
his parents decided him to send to the chess academy in their town since then
he never looked back and developed into an ace player under the mentorship of
dattaray more, today Aditya is a consistent junior chess player representing
Kolhapur in the state and fide rating chess tournaments, “ we cannot afford to
hire advanced coaches nor do we have any gadgets or chess softwares, we are
grateful to Utkarsh Lomte Sir for overseeing his coaching. Everything he is
doing today is because of his guidance and support, Aditya loves chess its his
passion, but participating in tournaments outside our town is a cause of
concern for us, must if the time the entry fee itself
is unaffordable, not counting the travel and accommodation cost. Said
Aditya's father who works as a peon in the Shivaji University.
To an extent Aditya supports himself grow in the game, after being a
consistent and promising chess performer for his district, he has won the
adulation of one and all especially the local corporator who gifted him with a
laptop last month.
Needless to say Aditya's happiness knew no bounds, “ this would help
me to develop my game further using the latest technology and distant online
training. I have been waiting to have of these for me, every time I see other
participants use software to analyse and improve their game” expressed Aditya,
who idolizes none other than India’s chess luminary , V Anand.
This season, while the Junior Chess fraternity geared up for the
most competitive and privileged competition in the country, U-11 nationals
undergoing at Chhattisgrah one that is both the starting place and making
ground of Chess legends in the country, Aditya had his own fairytale come true,
when on witnessing his talent, passion and determination for Chess, I2V chess
centre granted him aid to participate in the tournament,
and became first hand witness to his and his family's absolute bliss.
I2V Chess center,India providing partial scholarship to Aditya savalkar
I2V chess center at mumbai’s commercial hub,nariman point is instituted
by the 20 year old Mumbai based chess academy, South Mumbai Chess Academy (SMCA
) that is meant to aid students like Aditya, not only by bringing to their
doors the best world class professional training but also providing aid to
enter prestigious tournaments they cannot afford and with the support of
generous corporate support, sponsors to boost their professional careers.
"Today's day is like a festival for my family, there is
happiness and celebration all around, you hear of such things but you never
think they can happen to you, I have seen my son's love for Chess and today is
the best day of his life, we wish to thank I2V for giving him this
chance", were the grateful and ecstatic words of Anjali ,Aditya's mother,
who balances sustenance and her son's dreams between sewing clothes and
accompanying Aditya to tournaments.
His coach Utkarsh Lomte said that despite having limitless potential
and unrelenting determination and hard-work it's difficult for players not from
big cities to get proper training with limited resources and they are further
held back because they cannot perform in tournaments and that deprives them of
essential experience and training. And Aditya has it in him to become a
champion.
For Aditya his dream has come true. He sits today for his game
proudly wearing the Jersey of the state he represents and the hope he holds to prove his worth and take his first step as a champion.
The game is on!
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