Young Gaurishankar performs a 'trick'

Manoj Gaurishankar completed a hat-trick of titles in the under-10 age group at the British international junior chess championship 2003, conducted by the British chess federation in Edinburgh, Scotland, last week.

The Bangalore-based lad had won the title in the same age group in 2001 and 2002. He is unbeaten since 2001, scoring 6.5 points out of 7 rounds in each year, totalling 19.5 in the 21 rounds played to complete his hat-trick win.

Last year he was a triple-crown winner in the under-9, 10 and 11 category. This year he only played in the under-10 category to complete his hat-trick.

Gaurishankar is the first and the only chess player in the chess fraternity to win a hat-trick in an under-10 international chess championship.

Last month, he won the bronze medal in the United States Junior Open, at New York. He narrowly missed the gold in the event due to a game he lost by time.

The 10-year-old prodigy, a native of Trichur, Kerala, could also enter the Guinness Book of Records for his achievement.

Details of Gaurishankar's performance at the2003 British chess championship for under-10:

1st round: Gaurishankar, playing with the white pieces against Thomas Cooke in the Reversed Sicilian of the English Opening, won the game after 32 moves.

2nd round: He played with the black pieces against Wetherfield Benjamin in the Panov-Botvinnik attack in the Caro-Kan defense and won the game after 43 moves.

3rd round: He played with the white pieces against Gregory Anthony and won in 35 moves.

4th round: He played with black pieces and drew with Anuk Sirisena in 60 moves.

5th round: Playing with white against Anjali Lakhani, he won in 28 moves.

6th round: Played former national record holder, FIDE international rated chess player Prasanna Rughum Rao of India, who was also one of the top seeds of the tournament. In this crucial game, Gaurishankar came up with some fantastic attacking play to win in 46 moves and become the sole leader of the tournament. Gauri stepped into a new landmark chess by defeating the FIDE rated player to assure his chances for a hat-trick win in under-10.

7th and last round: Gaurishankar played with the white pieces against David Grant and defeated him in 37 moves to complete his hat-trick win with 6.5 points out of seven rounds.

Gaurishankar later said he dedicated his hat-trick titles to the Keralites in Ameriaca who helped him participate in the competitions held at Scotland, New York, and Philadelphia.

"I assure you that I will win more medals for our nation, India, if the helping hands continue their encouragement, love and blessing which they have showered on me in the USA," said the young champion.The arrangements for Gaurishankar's tour was made by Sree Narayana World Council of New York.

"Gaurishankar could be eligible for Guinness book of world record and also he is one of the top ranking junior chess players in the USA and Europe. With proper training and support he could win the World Chess championship within few years," said B. Aravindakshan, general secretary of the Sree Narayana World Council in New York, who promoted Gaurishankar's tour to USA in 2003. 

"Sponsorship is needed to support Gaurishankar's talent world wide," he added.