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 Winning ways of Srinath
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Srinath |
"I think Srinath is a stable player. He seems to slowly manoeuvre opponents and never takes undue risks. I attribute his victory to his steadiness," said Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand about
Srinath.
Srinath has been playing chess since he was five years old. How he developed interest in the game is really interesting. It seems one day all his cousins were playing chess and didn't allow him to play, saying he was too young to understand the game. Taking this up as a challenge he started playing the game.
Srinath won gold in the world junior chess championship (under-12) which was held in France recently. He was very tensed after losing the last round. Sanan was playing 2nd take and if he had won he would have got the title. Srinath's game had got over very fast. Srinath's title depended on the result of the Sanan-Ray Robson game. About 300 moves and six hours later, the game was in such a position that it had to end only in a draw. Hence Srinath won.
 All the participants of the world championship tournament got to play against Anatoly Karpov simultaneously. Karpov won 3 and drew 7. "I was one of the players who drew with Karpov. It was simply great playing with him. There was no time to play for more than half-an-hour as the prize distribution ceremony was nearing so we agreed for a draw," said Srinath.
Srinath is a student of M.CT.M School. He misses a lot of classes because of tournaments and practice sessions. In spite of all this he is a good student. "Srinath is a very bright boy who easily grasps everything taught. He sees to it that he does not let his studies get affected," says Jaya Narasimhan, vice principal.
 Srinath got a sweet surprise when his teachers came to recieve him at the airport. The school provides him with extra coaching to make up for all that he is missing.
"I am very happy because it has been a long time and he has been missing his big break," says Narayan, his father. Narayan works for the United India Insurance company and he says that taking part in international tournaments is a costly affair and he hopes this title would help Srinath get some sponsors.
Srinath prepares himself for his tournaments in a very scientific manner. His coach S Mari Arul chalks out various programmes for him and downloads his opponents' games for him to be mentally prepared.
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