Bhakti Kulkarni is now officially a Grand Master and Goa’s first at that. She now plans to qualify for the national team and win the commonwealth U-20 tournament in Chennai in November
For a year, there were questions raised over BhaktiKulkarni's claims that she had completed the three norms required to clinch thenorm of Woman Grand Master. Finally,last week, the girl from Margao saw her anxious wait come to an end to becomeGoa's first-ever WGM. And boy, wasn't Bhakti delighted with her fantasticachievement!
While Bhakti's Woman Grand Master title was unfortunatelystuck in FIDE technicalities, the gritty chess player continued to focus on hergame under the guidance of her coach, Dronacharya awardee Raghunandan Gokhale.
"My coach told me not to get distracted by the issueand to just focus on the tournament and play the game. I was also confidentthat I would get my title in due course of time. So I concentrated on my game.I used to take online coaching class from the coach," says Bhakti, feelingrelief rather than ecstacy. Bhakti is Gokhale's first student to become WGM.
So what does the WGM title mean for Bhakti? Certainly,Bhakti is prepared to live up to the status of a WGM. "Of course, now Iwill be more motivated. I will play with more confidence and responsibilitynow" says the humble 20-year-old.
Goa Carbon Brand Ambassador Bhakti, with an Elo rating of2196, is Goa's original chess prodigy having begun playing at the age of 5 inlocal tournaments. Taking setbacks in her stride, Bhakti has risen to becomethe WGM and has now set her sights on clinching a place in the India team.
With Women's Premier Chess Tournament coming up in Octoberfollowed by the Commonwealth Chess tournament in November, Bhakti dashed toMumbai for preparations under coach Gokhale, soon after getting the WGM title.
"I want to play for India and to do that I have toclinch a top-six finish in the Women's Premier event. All the top India playerstake part in this tournament and I do not want to leave any stone unturned tobe totally geared up for the event next month in Jalgaon (Maharashtra). My nexttarget is the Commonwealth U-20 gold medal in the international event to beheld in Chennai in November" said Bhakti.
