RITHVIK FACTFILE

■ Name: Rajavaram Raja Rithvik

■ Native Place: Warangal

■ First moves: At the age of 6, when his father (APSEB chess champion and University chess player) was playing with his colleagues.

■ Family: Father R. Srinivasa Rao is Superintending Engineer in TSTRANSCO. Mother Deepika resigned as Lecturer for Rithvik’s sports career. Accompanies him to all national and international tournaments. Sister Harika motivates him in achieving bigger goals, is working as Software Engineer in TESCO, MNC, Bangalore.

■ Practice: Daily three hours, with players, the computer and online.

■ Current Coach: N. Rama Raju of RACE Chess Academy, Hyderabad (been training Rithvik for four years).

■ Previous Coaches: K. Narsimha Rao (Hyderabad), Bollam Sampath (first coach from Warangal).

Favourite Player: Vishwanathan Anand, fivetime World Champion.

Best Friend: Grand Master Erigaisi Arjun (both Rithvik & Arjun started by being coached by Bollam Sampath at Warangal).

Hobbies: Reading books, badminton.