Abhimanyu Mishra, the making of the youngest chess Grandmaster through hard work, sacrifices, and superstition

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Tuesday, 6th July 2021

It's all too easy to underestimate the efforts and sacrifices that go into helping a prodigy attain top-level achievement. The term "gifted athlete" is frequently used to describe an athlete's achievement. The world delighted as Abhimanyu Mishra became the world's youngest Grandmaster, breaking GM Sergey Karjakin's 19-year-old record. The 12-year-achivement old's astounded the chess community.

Abhimanyu Mishra grew up to become a prodigy. His father, Hemant Mishra, only wanted to make sure his son didn't fall into the phone or tablet addiction trap. Hemant was aware that toddlers were becoming increasingly engrossed in the virtual world, and he wanted his 2-year-old son to engage in more productive activities.

Hemant told Geeta Mohan, India Today's Foreign Affairs Editor, that Abhimanyu began playing the game when he was 2 years and 8 months old. He wasn't a natural when he first began out, and it took him a couple of years to become used to the game, according to his happy father.

However, when he began competing in tournaments at the age of 5, his family chose to focus their efforts on assisting him in becoming a professional chess player.

"We began when he was two years and eight months old. The plan was to introduce him to the Roya Game. We preferred that he spend his time playing this game rather than working on his phone or iPad because I witnessed a lot of kids who were addicted to those devices at the time "Hemant spoke to India Today about it.

"When he was two years and eight months old, we began. This Roya Game was supposed to be introduced to him. We preferred that he spend his time playing this game rather than working on his phone or iPad because I had seen many children who were addicted to these devices at the time "India Today spoke with Hemant.

"That's how it all began. He began competing in tournaments at the age of five. We were fortunate to have Grand Master Arun Prasad Subramaniam and Grandmaster Mahesh as coaches. They began to arrange everything, and we were merely carrying it out."

There was delight and relief when Abhimanyu overcame 15-year-old Indian GM Leon Luke Mendonca in the Vezerkepzo GM Mix tournament in Budapest on June 30 to earn his third GM norm and Grandmaster title.

'I don't see him perform in person.'

Since April, Abhimanyu and his father have been camping in Hungary, while his mother Swati and sister Ridhima have been supporting him from New Jersey. Even while travelling with his son to tournaments, Hemant was working remotely. While vaccinated against the Covid-19, the concerned father had to take every care possible while they travelled through the pandemic. Abhimanyu, 12, has played over 70 games in a distant place in the previous two months.

And it was Ridhima who was keeping track of events as they unfolded. According to India Today, Abhimanyu's mother rarely watches him play because of superstition.

"We can see what's going on as it happens. He became the youngest GM as soon as his opponent retired. I learned a lot. Ridhima Mishra is a writer. I have a superstition about something. I do not watch it in real time. I believe I've jinxed it. Ridhima was watching it and commentating on it "Swati remarked.

Abhimanyu is relieved that their time in Hungary, which lasted three months, has come to an end.

"It's incredible to get the record after being here for two and a half, three months. Finally, my 7-8 years of hard effort paid off ""Says the youngest GM."

The News Talkie Bureau

Source

India Today