Viji setting her own norms

CHENNAI, JULY 24: The striking quality of Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman is her confidence. Though she became a Woman Grandmaster only at the age of 21, she looked like one five years ago and the class was unmistakeable. At 10, she was champion material and for a decade there was no competition for her in her category in women8217;s chess in India. She has won almost every title in the women8217;s national circuit in Indian chess.

Meenakshi, the second of the Subbaraman sisters, said Viji had told her before leaving for Hyderabad that she would complete it this time. 8220;In fact, she told me the same thing in January when she was leaving for Udaipur as well,8221; added Meenu, who was celebrating her sister8217;s triumph with her father at their residence in KK Nagar. 8220;I am happy but this was a little late,8221; said Subbaraman, who had given up his job to assist his daughters in chess. 8220;I am looking at her next target, the IM title,8221; added the father. For the record, Viji is closing in on the 2,400-Elo mark, the basic rating norm for an International Master.

The elevation of Viji as WGM is expected to signal a flurry of activity in women8217;s chess, like Anand8217;s in the 1980s when he became India8217;s first Grandmaster. 8220;The AICF has decided to bring former Candidate Valeri Salov to conduct a coaching camp for women in October,8221; said Ummer Koya. 8220;We are out to create a generation of grandmasters and there will be more tournaments for women as well.8221;

It is indeed a happy coincidence that the first GM and the first WGM have emerged from Chennai.