National crown under belt, Tania Sachdev eyes IM title

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) After shifting the balance of power towards North in a South-dominated game, Woman Grandmaster Tania Sachdev is now eyeing the 2450 ELO mark to graduate to an International Master (IM).

Talking to reporters here today, the svelte 20-year-old under-graduate student said the National Women's A title was a pleasant surprise but celebrations can wait, for she had larger goals to attain.

''Of course it was great winning the National title, which was quite incredible. Chess is a South-dominated game and I somehow mamnaged to win the title.

''But that only increases my responsibility and I have to attain the 2450 mark and that tops my agenda for the foreseable future,'' Tania, who has 2383 ELO points in her kitty, told UNI on the sidelines of a felicitation programme.

Chess, however, would take the back seat now, revealed the English literature student of capital's Venkateshwara college.

''I have been balancing study and chess quite well and study would now take over as I have my final year graduation exam coming up. Once it's over, I can concentrate on my game again,'' she said.

Tania has a number of events lining up her next year's calendar.

''I'll be playing in the Gibralter Masters, the Aerofloat Open and Cappela De Grande early next year and those would be a real test of my strength,'' felt the youngster.

Tania has worked under Kazakh coach Evgeny Vladimirov and Michael Krasenkow of Poland and is currently finetuning her opening under IM Vishal Sareen but the youngster is aware that she needs to work hard to live up to the expectations.

''I think my opening is not up to the mark. Middle game is my real strength but unfortunately that comes only after the opening -- which means I have a lot to do,'' quipped the player, who dreams to represent the country in Asian Games some day.

Elated with the performance of the Indian team in Doha, Tania said, ''See, you sent three people and they returned with two Gold medals. Now look at other disciplines where you send jumbo contingent and have hardly anything to show at the end of the day.

''Chess has a bright future in the country and a certain chess culture is picking up. I'm just happy to be part of the entire thing,'' she said.

An admirer of Viswanathan Anand, Tania recalled the chess wizard was in Chennai where she had the privilege to interact with him.

''He is an amazing person and he gave me a few invaluable tips and it was a great experience,'' she added.

UNI AY PM HS1457