Reykjavik champ Adhiban feels Fischer’s spirit guided him

In a fitting tribute to the chess legend, in whose memory the event is being held in Reykjavik, the city that became synonymous for the famous Fischer-Spassky World Championship match and where Fischer had breathed his last, Adhiban said. “I hope the spirit of Fischer is with me, I think it was.”

Curiously, the organisers of the event took the players to Fischer’s tomb but according to Adhiban’s father Baskaran, the Chennai-based Grandmaster preferred to stay back and prepare for his last-round game. “He sent a flower thorough his teammate Niranjan and he was confident about his preparation and he had no second to prepare with,” said Baskaran.

Altogether, it was a remarkable performance by the Indian especially after he had a forgettable tournament at Wijk aan Zee, the very same place which catapulted him to fame two years ago. In the 2017 edition of the Tata Steel Masters, Adhiban, a debutant at the event, showed the world that he too can take on the very elite of the world and hold ground. With his spectacular performance, Adhiban not only took third place in a star-studded field but was also invited to the 2018 edition of this premier event.

Adhiban needed only a draw in the last round in Reykjavik which he got easily against Turkey’s Mustafa Yilmaz. But the win that almost ensured his title was in the penultimate round against American 2700-player Richard Rapport. Adhiban was elated after his Reykjavic triumph. “I am very happy with my performance as it marks my comeback. I was very confident throughout the entire event which I felt was the key. And I won five games in a row which helped cement a smooth victory,” he told DT Next. “Also, it was a while since I won an event so it is good feeling to win the title unshared! I think this year is going to turn out great for me. think I have finally found my secret.” 

Adhiban, who began with a draw, had stormed into the lead with five successive wins and ended the tournament with six wins and three draws (7.5 points). The Chennai boy is a popular player in the chess circuit: he employs some strange openings and his post-game comments are witty too. During his five-game winning streak in Reykjavik, he tweeted. “Beating top players is a part of my destiny.”

Another Chennai lad R Praggnanandhaa was in line for a Grandmaster norm till the last round but his opponent in the last round did not have a good rating and ultimately, the 13-year-old fell marginally short of the mark.