This performance means a lot to me: Vijayalakshmi

Well, that was how Vijayalakshmi Subburaman played her chess in the last one week: she has been in top form in the last four rounds to reach a position of strength in her home tournament, which she has not missed in the last eight years. “I have played some good chess,” the 36-year-old Woman GM said after her last-round victory. “This performance means a lot to me. I am not looking at the GM norms as such but I need to play good chess first.” 

Vijayalakshmi, who became the first woman from India to become Woman GM (2001) and IM(2006), had everything going right for her till 10 years ago. But then she lost her father, who was the motivating force in her chess career.  “But it is difficult to combine a chess career and personal life for a woman (in India),” said Viji, who married Grandmaster Sriram Jha and works as senior manager with Air India. She is the eldest of three sisters, Meenakshi and Bhanu Priya. “I won the Commonwealth silver medal last year and a bronze in the Asian women championship. I have to score some 150 Elo points to complete my Grandmaster (men’s) title, but I guess if I play strong chess I would be able to make it,” Viji signed off.