SANGLI, FEB 29: As a fifteen-year-old his compatriots never took him seriously. Many underlined in bold that he would never make it big. In fact many opined he leave the sport, he so carefully chose, and pursue another as a career. Four years hence, hard work tagged with dedication, he proved his critics wrong. He made those who took him casually change their views, showed what he had in him, which culminated in him achieving a rare distinction very few have managed.Though, he began playing chess as early as ten, Sasi, as he is fondly known as, could never make headlines untill a couple of years back. His colleagues grabbed the opportunity and aired their thought that he stop playing chess.However, Sasikiran took all critics in his stride and worked on his weaknesses. His shortcoming was just one - lacking an attitude of winning the tournament - as once to often he fumbled after rubbing shoulders with the leaders mid-way into a tourney. But years of hard-work brought him desired results, as he won his first major title - the Under-18 Nationals in 1997. The victory helped him gain confidence and success in the form of the National `B' title and the National `A' in 1999 at Nagpur followed. Soon Sasikiran was tagged as the country's most promising youngster and a Grand Master probable.Thereafter it was a matter of time as he become the country's fifth GM and the second youngest to do so at the age of nineteen, after Vishwanathan Anand, who became India's first GM at 18.Says a relaxed Sasi, ``At the start, I never took it seriously. I simply enjoyed the game. But when I got my first International Master norm (in 1997) and simultaneously finished my tenth grade exams, I had to make a choice between chess and studies, to which I chose the former.'' But then, the Chennai-based Sasikiran had his moments of anxiousness, missing the final GM norm, on several occasions. This includes missing out the title at the Goodricke Open (Calcutta) this year, but managed to gain some solace in completing the final norm which could not be conferred as a title owing to the three norms spanning 29 games.However, the ONGC employee was not disappointed of missing the title. ``I knew I was close and it would not take me long to achive it,'' informs Sasi. ``I was a bit nervous today (Monday) morning. I knew I needed half-a-point and would be playing on the top board. But later I told myself that need not be nervous. Go and play your normal game,'' Sasi recollects.Sasikiran, known for his calm and calculated approach on the board and off the board too, as he buys his time before speaking a word, feels learning chess from coaches is still better than learning it from computers. ``Computers are just for practice. It stores data and it will play only those moves which it has stored. Playing with a coach is much more different, where one learns of the human aspect of life too.'' For Sasikiran, his father Srinivasan Krishnan is the man behind his success. ``He is my mentor, coach and trainer too. I owe this title to my father,'' said Sasikiran, and adds with a deep breath, ``to my employers ONGC too, who who have contributed a lot to my success.''The youngster, who has been playing without a break for about 45 days now, feels that a balance should be drawn between tournaments. ``A player should get a gap between two or three tournaments for preparations and to reorganise one's mistakes.''Sasikiran's next target is to reach the elite 2600 Elo rating list. And looking at this youngsters courage, one is bound to get an impression that nothing is impossible in this world.
