08, Nov 2011

National chess champion and woman grandmaster Tania Sachdev is an English (Hons.) graduate from Venkateshwara College, Delhi University.  While speaking about her career, Tania reminisces that her interest in the game accidentally developed when she was gifted a chessboard on her seventh birthday. Tania is ranked amongst the top 50 women in the world and third in India.

When asked about her transition to becoming the chess champion that she is today, Tania exclaims, “I started playing chess at the age of seven when I was gifted a chessboard. It is since then that I have been playing actively. I attribute the success I have garnered over the years to my interest in this game.”

One of the challenges faced by Tania as she worked towards developing a career in chess was balancing the game with her studies. “Finding time to practice chess during school and college used to be tough. I would forge plans and timetables, and invent all possible ways to handle my studies and my game at the same time. Sometimes, managing simultaneously used to get tough but I made a point to focus well,” admitted the twenty-five year-old chess champion. “Since my teachers at school and college knew I play chess for my country, they were always supportive,” she added.

Playing chess has opened up new avenues of self-development for Tania, as she claims to have become more analytical and competent to handle difficult situations. The game has also offered her opportunities for travel to new places and meet new faces.
Breaking into the world top 20 and also competing for the Men’s Grandmaster title are two of Tania’s aspirations for the future. Advising budding Indian chess players, she says, “Nothing can be achieved without hard work. Talent is not the only factor in success. You must also enjoy what you do; only then can you truly become an achiever.”

Tania’s Career Records:

1. Ranked among the top 50 women chess players in the world (current ranking 43)
2. Played Asian Indoor Games and won two bronze medals in Beijing in October 2010
3. Played in the national team championship and finished first with a 7/7 score in January 2011
4. Qualified for the Indian team and participated in the 2010 Chess Olympics in Russia
5. Played as a member of the Indian Chess team in Guangzhao and finished fourth in Asian Games