Prasad Wants Chess Competition Introduced in Schools
IWe should introduce chess to schools, it’s a fun game. It tests your mental capabilities, patience, ability to see patterns and strategies.”
Tanvi Prasad Vodafone Nationsl Chess women’s division champion
t has always been chess for Tanvi Prasad. Her dad Ravikesh Prasad and brothers Yash and Rudr all play chess. Being the only girl in the family she had to mellow to chess.
“You can say that chess is in my blood, it was always been chess for me,” Prasad said.
Last Tuesday the 16-year-old won the women’s national championship for the first time by tie-break over Jacquelyn Masilomani with 4/7.
The Year 11 Jai Narayan College student has been playing chess the past 10 years when she was in kindergarten.
She will represent Fiji at the Oceania Zonal competition in Melbourne, Australia on January 23 with national open champ Candidate Master (CM) Taione Sikivou.
“Almost ten years of playing chess, I have never won the women’s championship before,” she said.
“We are always and forever playing chess, everyone in my family knows how to play chess.
“I play on board with my brothers then practice online on chess.com.”
Her younger brother Yash, 8, participated for his first national championship.
“I’m proud of him, it’s his first tournament and he did well.
“We should introduce chess to schools, it’s a fun game.
“The Fiji Chess Fedeartion has some plans and programmes about it.
“It tests your mental capabilities, patience, ability to see patterns and strategies,” the aspiring doctor added.
The primary school’s division was won by Arnav Lal of Deenbandhoo Primary.
Meanwhile, Anisha Eshal Bari finished third in the women’s division with 3.5/7 in her first chess tournament.
The Vodafone Fiji National Blitz Chess Championship next month will introduce new champions for a shorter format of the sport.