Chess Master-Turned-Cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal :
Yuzvendra Chahal, the chess master- turned cricketer went back to his earlier passion, chess on Sunday (5th April 2020), promoting an online event, which is organized by chess.com.
According to him, chess taught him how to be patient on the cricket ground. He is also the winner of the national Under-12 chess championship. He got the opportunity to represent India at the World Youth Chess Championships and also is listed on the website of the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
The Elo rating of Chahal in 1956. In a discussion with International Master Rakesh Kulkarni and Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta before the event, the Indian bowler said “ This sport taught me patience. In cricket, sometimes it happens that you bowl well but you can’t get wickets.”
“Likewise in a Test match, in a day, you may have bowled good but not got wickets but you have to be patient enough and come back with positive spirit on the next day. Chess always helps me how to be patient in the cricket field and get batsmen out.”
When asked Chahal about his decision to select cricket over chess despite doing quite well in chess, he said he has done so because he has more interest in cricket than chess.
“ When the time has come to choose between chess and cricket, I consulted with my dad who said that the choice is yours. I had more interest in cricket than chess, so I opted for it.”
Chahal coordinated his intelligence against the likes of genius R Praggnanandhaa, GMs B Adhiba- second youngest Grandmaster of India, Karthikeyan Murali and Nihar Sarin among others.
“I don’t get so much time with my family members. After a long time, I have sufficient time and I am at my home place. During this, I am spending the whole time with my family. It feels very good. Usually, I go to bed late at night, rise late and use my maximum time with my family in the snack time and also playing chess whenever possible.”
