Noida: He is humble, he is suave, he is focused and, above all, he has the desire to win. Players like him come along once in many years. His instinctive ability to grasp, act and deliver is what makes him such an outstanding player of the 64 squares. Parimarjan Negi has the grace, style and confidence to set landmarks that will stand the test of time.
Parimarjan became a chess Grandmaster at the age of 13, the second youngest ever in the history of the game. He gained the International Master title at 12 and is the youngest Indian GM and IM.
Introduced to the game when he was just four, the Delhi player has several medals and titles from prestigious international championships to his name. And at a time when he is not yet eligible for a driving licence, the Arjuna Award at the age of 17 is another distinction in an already illustrious career.
“The Arjuna Award is very special. Being honoured by President Pratibha Patil is something that I will cherish throughout my life. The award is a big boost which will encourage me to achieve bigger goals,” said the champion at a felicitation ceremony hosted in his honour by the Amity Group (Parimarjan is a student of Amity International School, Saket).
Thanks to teachers and coaches
Showing his gratitude, the poster boy of Indian chess said he owed his success to many people, including his parents, teachers, friends, coaches and sponsors (the Tata Group and Bharat Petroleum), who have supported him since his formative years.
“My teachers at school did everything they could and helped me cope with the pressure of studies whenever I needed it. I am thankful to my principal and my teachers, who arranged extra classes for me before my exams, and that helped me get good marks in my Class X boards. I am also very thankful to my friends and well-wishers who have rooted for me and celebrated my moments of success,” said Parimarjan, who also thanked the coaches who had honed his skills over the years.
“On this special occasion, I would like to show my gratitude to my coaches, who developed my skills. They have guided me in shaping my style in this game of 64 squares and I owe my success to them. The process of learning continues and I hope to improve with each day,” said Parimarjan, adding that he had come a long way from a four- or five-year-old who just wanted to solve the puzzle of chess to someone who now takes real pleasure in playing the game.
From hobby to passion
“When I started, it was just a game for me. I played other sports like swimming, cricket and badminton as well. But slowly I started liking chess because it gave me time to sit at home and play. Gradually, I started winning competitive tournaments. The aim of reaching the top ignited my hunger to perform on the big stage. So from a hobby, it became my passion,” said the soft-spoken youngster, adding that chess has taught him many things – the most important being the ability to make decisions quickly.
“Whoever invented chess, for me it’s a fascinating battlefield of 64 squares. Some see it as an art, some see it as a science. But for me it’s a game which has taught me a lot. In a single game of chess we have to make 20 or more decisions in no time. In a way, this is reflected in real life as well,” he said, adding that he was not afraid of failure.
“Rather, failures and disappointments have helped shape my progress. I have learnt lessons from these failures. I am continuing to learn and fight my way ahead,” said Parimarjan, who is an avid reader and loves to log in to his Facebook account whenever he is free.
“I am flying to Holland tomorrow to play an open tournament. This year hasn’t been that good for me, so I’m looking forward to some wins,” said Parimarjan.
By Rakesh Jha
Indian Sports News
