Viji setting her own norms

Viji setting her own norms
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

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 women's chess in India. She has won almost every title in the women'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. ``In fact, she told me the same thing in January when she was leaving for Udaipur as well,'' added Meenu, who was celebrating her sister's triumph with her father at their residence in KK Nagar. ``I am happy but this was a little late,'' said Subbaraman, who had given up his job to assist his daughters in chess. ``I am looking at her next target, the IM title,'' 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 women's chess, like Anand's in the 1980s when he became India's first Grandmaster. ``The AICF has decided to bring former Candidate Valeri Salov to conduct a coaching camp for women in October,'' said Ummer Koya. ``We are out to create a generation of grandmasters and there will be more tournaments for women as well.''

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