PANAJI
There’s an unmistakable buzz in Goa as the FIDE World Cup returns to India after 23 years, with the 11th edition hosted in the State. The 206-player single-elimination tournament features the world’s finest, including Goa’s Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca — one of 24 Indian GMs in contention.
For the 19-year-old Porvorim-based prodigy, competing in a world-level event at home feels surreal.
"It definitely feels weird to play such an important tournament at home. I played at the Goa GM International Open in 2019, when I was barely an IM. That tournament is nothing compared to the level and prestige of the World Cup. I have never felt like this, to play at home. It feels a lot different," Leon told 'The Goan'.
Playing in a high-stakes knockout format brings its own pressures, particularly for a first-timer, and Leon is preparing as much mentally as on the board. "This is my first FIDE World Cup. I do not have too much knock-out experience. I get the gist of it from seeing previous World Cups and how they have been played. For sure, everybody who has gone far enough in the tournament and won the event as well, definitely has been mentally very strong," he said.
"We have to go through everything - winning positions, losing positions, must-win games, situations to defend... everything. You have to be really mentally ready and strong enough to persist till the end. That is the most important thing, especially in the World Cup. It is a very nerve-wrecking tournament and you have to be very confident in yourself," the 67th GM from India asserted.
Leon revealed that he sought advice from a GM with prior World Cup experience. "I spoke to a Grandmaster who has played the World Cup before. He told me how it can be, as he went as far as the third or fourth round. The talk was very insightful."
On his preparations for arguably the most significant tournament of his career yet, Leon revealed it began a month ago.
"As I was the FIDE World Cup reserve, I got in quite late. The pairings were also announced only a month earlier. I have been looking at my opponent's (first round) games since, and sizing him up. I have been preparing openings based on that. In general, I am trying to improve on my overall play from my previous tournaments and be ready for the first round (FIDE World Cup). And the work will be useful in the next rounds, if I go ahead," the exciting talent stated.
In the first round, Leon, with an Elo of 2620, will face Chinese IM Shixu B Wang (Elo 2402). If he advances, he is likely to meet 14-year-old Turkish sensation GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmas (Elo 2651).
During the pandemic, in December 2020, Leon earned his final GM norm at the Vergani Cup in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. He achieved the feat at a precocious 14 years, 9 months and 17 days, becoming only the second GM from Goa after Anurag Mhamal. Ever since, he has been on the rise and sits comfortably as the highest-rated GM from the State with an Elo of 2620 in the latest FIDE ratings.
But Leon knows he has a long way to go to realise his optimum level and continues to work towards it.
"I want to get to the fullest of my potential. I have chosen this career. I have done this for so long and there is no point in doing something else. It sometimes does get difficult with results, there is stagnancy. But I try to push through. I know I am capable. My aim is to get to the last point that I can reach. I just want to do my best and prove to myself that I am capable of competing at the highest level," he stated.
With India boasting seven Super GMs (FIDE rating over 2700), Leon admits the next milestone is clear.
"To reach 2700 Elo, is the most upcoming goal. I reached 2600 in the June 2023 FIDE list, and I have been trying to break through the next level ever since. I have been trying to find what works for me to get to the next level," he confessed.
On coaching and training support, he added: "As far as a permanent coach is concerned, I do not have one. For tournaments, I sometimes have a second to help me to work on some openings, help me on a game. Generally, when working at home, I have group training sessions with a coach and other GMs. Until last year, I had a coach, GM Vishnu Prasanna, who still mentors me and is always there when I seek advice."
