Making the right moves

Riya Savant is having a good year. This rising star of Goanchess will represent India at the World Youth Chess Championship in Slovenia,with a target of finishing in the top three in the under-12 category. In theyear that has seen Riya clinch medals in Romania, Sri Lanka and Vietnam; thereis every possibility that this Mapusa-based girl conquers Slovenia as well.While to round-off the year, Riya will also play for India in under-12Commonwealth Chess Championshp with an opportunity to put a sweet finish to amemorable year.

While it has been smooth sailing in age-group categories,Riya also took a challenge and participated in an open tournament inVisakhapatnam recently. "This was more for exposure as she played GrandMaster, International Master and much-higer ranked players here," said herfather Dharmanand Savant, adding that despite not getting much in terms of Elopoints in Vizag, Riya is in the right frame of mind for Slovenia mission.

So, what is Riya all about? 12-year old Riya, a studentof  St. Mary's High School in Mapusa."Riya was six years old when she started playing. The talent in her wasfor everyone to see when in her first under-7 state selection tournament, shefinished second behind Ivana Furtado," says Riya's father about her earlydays in chess. 

Riya coached under Bambolim Chess Academy's Siva Swamy forfour years to start with, followed by a stint under Dronacharya awardeeRaghunandan Gokhale. Riya is now training under Grand Master R B Ramesh."Riya puts in 20 hours of practice per week. She wants to finish in topthree in every tournament she takes part in," revealed Dharmanand aboutRiya's focussed attitude.

While most of the coaching under Chennai-based R B Ramesh isonline, Dharmanand takes Riya to Chennai once every two months. Woman CandidateMaster Riya's current Elo Rating is 1893 and she is seeded 9th in the world inunder-12 category. Not much of words, Riya does most of the talking on thechess board. "My preparations as such, will be of tactical nature. I willwork on Openings and End game variations," says Riya ahead of the worldyouth event.

This year, Riya has won gold at Asian youth rapid event aswell as team events in Sri Lanka, gold at ASEAN event in Vietnam, done well inRomania and Dubai; apart from a silver medal at under-13 national chesschampionship in Chennai. Riya has also earned herself an exposure trip fromGovernment of India for the next year due to her top-six finish in under-15nationals.

All in all, year 2012 seems to have made Riya a seasonedcampaigner. While Bhakti Kulkarni and Ivana Furtado had established themselvesas powerplayers in Goan women's chess long ago, Riya has now put herself inthat bracket. "This would not have been possible without the support ofGeno Pharmaceuticals, who are sponsoring Riya," adds Dharmanand.