'I committed a mistake and Anand managed to draw'

Vicky Nanjappa chats with Srikar Varadaraj, the lad who held World champion Viswanathan Anand to a draw in the simultaneous chess games at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

For 14-year old Srikar Varadaraj, life will not be the same. In just a day he performed two great feats: emerged the youngest to present a paper during the International Congress of Mathematicians, and forced none other than World champion Vishwanathan Anand to a draw in a game of chess.

The Bangalore boy was the only player among 40 participants to score a draw in the simultaneous games the World champion played at the Congress in Hyderabad.

Srikar comes across as an unassuming lad. His reaction to the draw against Anand: "It was fun and a wonderful feeling to draw the game against this great player."

However, he was more pleased with his other feat.

"I wrote a paper on differential geometry. It was accepted and I gave a short presentation at the Congress. In fact, I am happier for that," he said.

But how was it to play against Anand?

"Playing with the World champion, who takes every game seriously, was a completely different experience for me. I would say that it was an inspiring experience; it is hard to believe that a person can be so simple and yet achieve so much.

"I had heard of his greatness from my father sometime back. It was obviously a great feeling to be in front of him and play him. I was fully aware that a Grandmaster would play a strategic game. This made me think strategically. The game was well-contested and, many times, I was in with a good chance. I had the advantage right through, but then I committed a mistake and Anand managed to draw the game," said Srikar.

Where did he err?

"I traded the queens, thinking he had more pawns. This was the mistake I made. Maybe, I could have won had I played the end-game properly. I drew because this was simultaneous chess. Had it been a one-on-one, I think, he would have busted me in no time. The game was fun, but I was not overawed either, since I did not expect much."

Srikar was quick to point out that, like every aspiring chess player, he too has analysed and emulated many of Anand's games.

"I learnt how to tackle strategic positioning and take the right decisions at critical junctures. I am happy I got an opportunity to play him. It was a memorable event to cherish and remember," he said.

He revealed that when he was in the United States he was part of an All-American team.

"Chess is not something new to me. Even in the US I have won many awards for both chess and math. However, maths is my passion and chess a hobby. I don't get much time to play chess since I have dedicated most of my time to mathematics and I would be happier if I achieve more in that field. My immediate concerns are, however, not chess. I have lot of other things to do and, more importantly, study for my exams," he said.

Asked for his impressions on the Congress, he said, "It was an inspiring experience and I got to hear and see the greatest mathematicians of our times. For a youngster like me it is the Mecca of mathematics. Mathematics, physics and chess have been my passions, and I plan to pursue the same and do something innovative. Though I play tennis and cricket, and love music, chess has been my key pursuit.

"I would like to thank my family, especially my sister and Prof. B Sury of the Indian Statistical Institute for his encouragement. I also want to thank my school, Venkat International in Bangalore, and my teachers for their support," he concluded.

Image: Srikar Varadaraj receives a memento from Viswanathan Anand.