Mumbai: World youth silver medallist, Dev Shah, of Mumbai added yet another medal to his collection by winning silver in the Under–9 National age group Chess Championship at CT Public School, Jalandhar on Tuesday.
The Maharashtra state Champion and former world school chess Champion narrowly missed the gold in a nerve biting tie breaker with Sahil Dey of Assam where both had a uniform score of 9.5 after 11 difficult rounds.
DV Ganesh, coach of Dev Shah said, “Both were on equal points, and it was a matter of luck. Still he (Dev) was leading but unfortunately he missed (gold medal) maybe due to psychological tension, when one is continuously playing on the top board.”
Dev was only 4-year-old when his coach saw his potential and decided that he can do something in the field and started his serious training. In less than a year, at the age of 5, Dev started playing competitive chess where he set a new record by being the double gold medallist at the Asian schools chess championships in New Delhi in 2013.
Talking about Dev’s Daily routine, his coach Ganesh stated, “He (Dev) comes back at around 2:30 (pm) from school, he takes his small nap for one – two hours. At 5 O’clock we start sessions. Sometimes, it depends in his energy level so he will finish 9 or sometimes he will sit up to 10.”
Ganesh further added, “Because of his passion he loves to manage. Even if I say, you are tired of something, he will say, ‘no sir, some more time’.”
Dev also has all the support from his parents and school, Dirubhai Ambani School, who are all very proud of all his achievements and thus help him balance between his competitions and Education.
When asked about her role, Dev’s Mother, Krupali Shah stated, “the important thing I need to look at is giving him motivation. Supporting him in his loses, his draws which is very important because he really needs that big hug to come back with a vengeance.”
Dev’s coach at SMCA, DV Ganesh confidently speaks about Dev’s potential and is all focused on making him the next Grandmaster from Mumbai and also India’s youngest Grandmaster.
Dev is the only chess player after Vishwanathan Anand to get adulation from the Cricket god Sachin Tendulkar after his win at the World’s Schools chess Championships in 2014.
Some of Dev’s major achievements have been, Double Gold Medals at Asian Schools Chess 2012, Gold Medal at Commonwealth Chess Championship 2013, Gold Medal at World Chess School, Brazil 2015, Silver Medal at World Youth Chess Championships, Greece 2015, Gold medal in Under – 7 Maharashtra state Championship 2014, Gold Medal at Under – 9 Maharashtra State Championship 2015 and Silver Medal at Under – 7 National age group Chess Championship 2014.
The wonder boy is set to be the part of the Indian Chess Squad that will represent India in the world Youth Cadets Chess Championships to be held in Georgia next week.
New kid on the block…