Exclusive: Why Harika Dronavalli believes this is the best phase in Indian women's chess

Vaishali Rameshbabu also spoke about the role and support of her mother and more.

Indian women’s chess is in the safe hands as the baton has been passed from Humpy Koneru and Harika Dronavalli to Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agrawal. The team recently won a historic gold at the Chess Olympiad as well as the team title for the first time. Four of the above mentioned five players were part of the squad with the only Humpy missing the tournament.

Among them Harika and Vaishali initially struggled but found rhythm at different points to help India script history at the Chess Olympiad. Khel Now had an opportunity to speak to both Indian grandmasters on the sidelines of a tournament.

Harika, often called the pioneer of Indian women’s chess, achieved her Grandmaster title in 2004 while her International Master (IM) title came three years later. In 2011, she became the second female Grand Master (GM) from India by securing her third GM norm at the 2011 Women Grandmaster Chess Tournament, in Hangzhou, China.

Meanwhile, Vaishali, the 84th grandmaster for India, achieved her Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2018, and her International Master (IM) title in 2021. Two years later, she completed her Grandmaster (GM) requirements, by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss.

Both chess players spoke about the massive success at the Candidates, the women’s chess scene in India and more. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

Q) Harika, tell us about your chess journey from becoming the second female GM from India to winning the Candidates this year. How do you see it?

Harika Dronavalli: This is what I always wanted to do when I started Chess. I wanted to become a world champion and have very high ambitions. So, it’s not like I didn’t expect this to happen. I was always clear that I was going to be on top. I can’t even think of how far I have come. I always think that, maybe still I’m supposed to do something bigger, and I just look forward to my matches.

Q) Watching Vaishali, Vantika, Divya, Savitha and other younger chess players, do you see the growth of chess culture among young girls in India?

Harika Dronavalli: Right now, we are in the best phase of Indian chess because I think we have never had so many players at the top level, so definitely this is the best in the entire Indian women’s chess history. We are doing well, and I think more can be done like so that more players can come up. I just wish people get inspired and girls take up our chess.

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Q) What challenges have you faced as a female chess player?

Harika Dronavallli: I never believed in this gender bias. I always felt like it was equal. But the only difference I could see was when I became a mother. I think that’s the toughest part as a woman—the need to balance both chess and being a mother and all the responsibilities that come with it. Other than that, I don’t see any challenges that I faced.

Even during motherhood, playing chess is possible because I have a very supportive family and they’re taking care of the child. At least from my experience, I have never faced any difficulties. The times have changed, and many people are interested in taking sports at least at a certain level.

Q) At the Chess Olympiad, you initially struggled with your form and weren’t at your best. However, in the final match, when the team needed you most, you elevated your game and secured the win, leading the team to victory. How did you feel in that moment, especially when things seemed to be going against you?

Harika Dronavalli: Yeah, I struggled a bit initially because I didn’t work at all before the Olympiad for one month. It was new for me as I didn’t prepare [at all] for the tournament. Generally, I keep working. I was busy with too many things like family and, my daughter’s birthday. I just didn’t get time to prepare. So somewhere I was feeling guilty about it, and was taking a lot of pressure at the start.

But when things were going wrong, I realized that my team needed me. So, my experience helped me to make a comeback. When we lost against Poland and then got a lifeline after drawing against the United States from a complicated situation, I just knew that we would win.

I told myself that we just have to win at any cost, and I’ll make sure we will win. I think somewhere experience matters and helps a bit on how to handle the situation.

Also Read: Vidit Gujrathi on why chess is a spiritual journey for him

Vaishali Rameshbabu speaks about playing in next Candidates, her mother’s support

Q) You haven’t been at your best lately so how are you dealing with the bad form from the Chess Olympiad?

Vaishali Rameshbabu: In the Olympiad, the first half was great and the second half could have been better. I lost a couple of games and, I think overall I played some good games. there have been some ups and downs, definitely. And I’ve been working, and I just hope this is just a bad phase and it will change soon.

Q) How are you preparing for the next Candidates cycle?

Vaishali Rameshbabu: I am not thinking much about the candidates as of now, but I would love to be playing in the Candidates again. And then there’s the World Cup. There are many qualification paths. For now, I’m just focusing on one tournament at a time.

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Q) Can you tell us about your coaching team?

Vaishali Rameshbabu: I work with two trainers, and I’m also part of Westbridge Anand Chess Academy where I get to discuss my strategy and gameplay with Anand sir and other trainers.

Q) The baton has been passed from Humpy and Harika to you, Divya and Vantika among others. How do you handle this pressure and the burden of expectations?

 Vaishali Rameshbabu: I don’t think I have any pressure. I just want to do well in the tournaments I play and improve. I’m not thinking about other things so much.

Q) Can you tell us about the role of your mom in your chess career? How is she helping you?

Vaishali Rameshbabu: My mother accompanies both me and my brother Pragg to most of the tournaments, and she has been travelling continuously. When the games or the tournament don’t go well, it’s important to have such support behind us.

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