Satyapragyan promises Orissa its first GM title by 2010

Chess is enjoying a boom time in Orissa. To the extent that it has made king cricket envious. But chess needs to sustain its meteoric rise. ``When can we have our first Grandmaster,`` asks the state of the 64-square game. The question received a positive answer when the state`s first home-grown IM Swayangsu Satyapragyan said that he was optimistic of getting the first GM title next year. ‘‘After getting my first GM norm in 2006, I struggled for three years. But the opportunity to represent the country Paris Open and a long-cherished meeting with reigning World champion Viswanathan Anand at his home in Madrid helped me a lot to secure the second norm at the Kolkata Open GM Tournament. Now I am playing well and feeling confident of securing the third norm and the GM title by 2010,’’ described Satyapragya after being felicitated by Khordha District Chess Association (KDCA) at a star hotel in Bhubaneswar today. Describing his meeting with Anand, Satyapragyan said: ‘‘While playing Fide rating tournaments in Spain, I became eager to meet Anand for the first time in my life. I jumped in joy when he responded to my e-mail and invited me to his home. I spent several memorable hours there talking to him and seeing his practice room. During the meeting I was bowled over by Anand’s humble, friendly and helpful personality. He is not only a world champion but a true icon as well.’’ Giving an example of Anand’s down-to-earth characterstics, Satyapragyan said: ‘‘I wanted to have a photo of Anand and me together. But I had no camera. When I told this to Anand, he promptly obliged me with his own camera and mailed me the photo from there.’’ Satyapragyan said during the meeting Anand strongly believed that I would be getting my second GM norm soon. ‘‘His words immensely boosted my confidence and after missing the norm narrowly in a couple of tournaments in Spain, I did it at Kolkata,’’ he admitted. In the Kolkata Open, the strongest tournament in Asia, Satyapragyan defeated three Grandmasters and held four more to draws to finish a creditable seventh. In the felicitation function, Justice Bimal Prasad Das of Orissa High Court lauded Satyapragyan’s talent and achievement before presenting him citation and memento. KDCA president Trailokya Jena said by virtue of his perseverance, Satyapragyan had not only come closer the GM title, he had also opened the door for five youngsters to accomplish the feat. KDCA secretary and well-known former player Subhasis Patnaik threw light on Satyapragy`s struggling days and saluted the player`s parents for their support to bring their younger son thus far. ``Satyapragyan`s family lived without light and water for two years. But they overcame all odds to make Satyapragyan what he is now,`` said an emotional Patnaik. He went on to say that besides becoming a GM, Satyapragyan would be settling down in life soon. Thankfully, Patnaik stopped just short of naming the star player`s would-be wife. Leading coaching academy S R Chess Centre`s director S R Patnaik highlighted Satyapragyan`s special ability to excel in both chess and academics. ``He also stood one among top 15 in the Plus Two examination. Satyapragyan proved that one can do well both in chess and studies,`` Patnaik observed. Giving the mood of the felicitation function a different direction, Orissa Chess Ad-hoc Committee chairman Asit Mukherjee opined that Satyapragyan should help better grooming of five most talented yougsters of the state. But the comment proved to be a spoil sport and drew sharp response. The first to react was Satyapragyan. ``I respect the concern of the ad-hoc committee`s chairman. But I know the youngsters better aware than many people and I also aware of my responsibility towards them,`` he responded. ``The ad-hoc committee sent me over 150 e-mails when I was busy in playing tournaments. But it did not mail me a congrts message when I got the second GM norm,`` said a peeved Satyapragyan, expressing identical feeling of the chess-loving people present in the function. PHOTOS: TOP: Justice B P Das felicitates Swayangsu Satyapragyan in Bhubaneswar on Sept 23, 2009. BOTTOM: Swayangsu Satyapragya with his parents at the felicitation function in Bhubaneswar on Sept 23, 2009.