Vantika Agrawal takes on 17 challengers in a thrilling simul
On the 15th of February, IM Vantika Agrawal took on 17 challengers in an exciting simultaneous exhibition at the ChessBase India Chess Club in Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Kurla. The simul featured players from different age groups and ratings, all eager to test their skills against a titled player. All the challengers enjoyed this rare opportunity to face the Olympiad Gold medalist. In the end, Vantika delivered an impressive performance with 15 wins and just 2 losses. Read the article to find out how the event unfolded. Photos: Tanmesh Mokal, Vidhi Karelia.
Fast and Curious
Whenever I watch a World Championship match or an elite chess tournament, I wonder how these players handle the pressure. They are facing the best in the world, there are cameras around capturing every moment, it must be nerve-wracking. But there is another kind of challenge that tests a player in an entirely different way- Simuls! Imagine you have to walk from board to board, make moves on instinct, and keep track of multiple games at once while your opponents are focused on a single one… how can these players manage this and win most of the games? This is beyond science! These simuls are a true test of a player’s skill and strategies.
One such exciting event recently took place at the ChessBase India Chess Club in Phoenix Marketcity Mall. IM Vantika Agrawal gave a simultaneous exhibition against 17 chess players on the 15th of February. The Olympiad Gold medalist came to Mumbai for the Sportstar Aces felicitation event. The Indian Men and Women's Olympiad Teams were awarded as the "National Team of the Year”! The award ceremony took place on the 14th and Vantika generously agreed to give a simul the next day.
Watch the special moment when Vantika Agrawal and Divya Deshmukh received the award.
Here is what went down at the simul:
This simul was a great learning experience for the challengers. Whether it was Vantika’s opening choices, positional advantages, tactics, time management or anything else, there was something to learn for everyone. They got to see how an experienced player like Vantika thinks and navigates the game.
For little Dhimoyee, it might have been an inspiring moment to see Vantika’s fearless style. That could have sparked a dream, “One day, I want to be like her!” For Mihir who scored a win, it must have been a huge confidence boost. Defeating an IM is not an easy task. Perhaps, he may have felt unstoppable in that moment! For those who fell short, the simul might serve as a reminder that with self-belief, even the strongest players can be defeated.
Check out all the pictures from the simul here.