PANAJI
Leon Mendonca of Saligao became Goa's second chess Grandmaster, winning his final of three GM norms at a tournament in Italy earlier this week.
All of 14 years and nine months, Leon and his father Lyndon Mendonca who hail from Saligao, had been stranded in Europe while they were there for a tournament with the outbreak of the pandemic in March.
The father and son duo despite their predicament of being stranded in Europe saw a flicker of opportunity and grabbed it. Their gamble on the chess board paid off nearly nine months later as Leon earned the honour of becoming Goa's second and India’s 67th chess Grandmaster.
Leon finished second with 6.5 points behind the Ukranian winner at the Vergani Cup in Bassano del Grappa, Italy and had earlier earned the first and second GM norms in October and November.
Stuck as they were in the pandemic in Europe in March, the two made do all these months living in Airbnb rooms. He played several tournaments determined to achieve the GM and finally got it this week in Italy.
