Yanti (8) sets sights on International Grand Master
THE game of kings has a new, little queen.
An 8-year-old Durban girl has won gold at the South African Youth Chess Championship, emerging top in her age group after nine suspense-filled rounds.
Yanti Nunnan, of Overport, flew home this week, after her triumph at the tournament in Port Elizabeth, to a hero’s welcome at King Shaka Inter- national Airport.
The Grade 2 Penzance Primary School pupil completed her first game in a gruelling three hours and 70 moves, setting the tone for the rest of the competition.
She scored eight of a possible nine points – making her the overall winner.
And the secret of her success? Well she likes to open with a pawn to E6.
“Whenever I play that move, my opponents think I’m play- ing another move and it shocks them,” she said.
Yanti is something of a newcomer to the game, although she comes from a chess- loving family, including cousin, Kriti Lalla, who has received her SA chess colours six times.
Yanti took up chess in December last year and when she realised she had a knack for it she got a coach, Heinko du Plessis.
Since then she has attended a school’s tournament in Cape Town in March, where she was selected to represent the country in her age group in Sri Lanka in July and last month.
She faced tough competition there and it was not her best performance. However, she was determined to make a comeback.
Yanti has been selected to represent KwaZulu-Natal in Gauteng as part of its Under-10 girls team in December.
Her mother, Raksha Nunnan, said the family was over the moon about Yanti’s achievement.
“We are really, really proud of her – she’s our little champ!” she said.
Asked what children her age should do to explore their talents, Yanti said: “Try everything out, don’t give up and you will excel.”
After her Port Elizabeth triumph, Yanti was named “Woman Candidate Master”. Next in her sights is the title of International Grand Master.