Chennai: Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, the first Indian female to attain both the International Master (IM) and Women's Grandmaster (WGM) titles, says there is no match to the country's supremacy in chess and "we will only get stronger".In an interaction with PTI, Vijayalakshmi said the revolution in the game started with Manuel Aaron, country's first IM, Vishwanathan Anand, the first men's Grandmaster and herself as the nation's first WGM - all belonging to the same city.Also read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks record with fastest List A fifty, misses hundred by just a stroke"We are the strongest chess playing nation in the world. And we are going to become even stronger than we are right now. But within India, the major competition lies in Chennai. And it all started with Manuel Aaron, Vishy Anand and then me all from Chennai," said the 47-year-old Vijayalakshmi."And now you have Gukesh, Pragnanandha and Vaishali. It is like a crop that is continuously growing," she observed but quickly that this was due to the efforts of players like Vishy, herself, and many others who started at the initial stage."This was the kind of basement that was laid. So it was easy for players to pick it up from there," she noted.Vijayalakshmi also looked back at her own achievements."It's so near yet so far. I don't know how many players have achieved four Men's GM norms, I'm one of those people who achieved four GM norms and fell short by two yellow rating points. If that had happened, yes, I would have become probably the first GM at that point in the men's as well. But nevertheless, it has been an amazing journey."She is thinking of making a comeback."And I would say that at the end of it, like I can see that GM title would have had a very good, you know, tinge to it, but I'm sure I'll still be able to do it.Probably in the next few years, I should be able to do it. I'm thinking of getting back to chess again."On leaving chess at the peak of her career, she added: "My father, who was my coach, passed away on August 15, 2007. So it was almost impossible for me to get back to the chess field because the memories were too strong for me to, you know, it was probably the most difficult phase of my life. And I couldn't even fathom getting back. It was 2007," she recalled."So I almost took a break for about three years. I just couldn't get back into the chess field because I was invited to some events as a chief guest. So when I entered the chess hall, I started crying. It was very painful."Vijayalakshmi is confident that Vaishali, the first Indian to win the Women's Candidate tournament, will win the world title."Gukesh has won the world championship, he is now the youngest world champion probably in any sport that we can aspire for. That is probably one amazing achievement."And now Vaishali has got qualified for the world championship. So I am just waiting for her also to win the world championship. If that is done, then we will have the men's and women's world champions," she added.
India is the strongest chess playing nation: Vijayalakshmi hails country's rapid rise
Chennai's Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, India's first IM and WGM, asserts the nation's chess dominance is unmatched and will only grow. She highlights Chennai's pivotal role, from pioneers like Manuel Aaron and Vishwanathan Anand to current stars Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa. Vijayalakshmi also reflects on her near-miss GM title and contemplates a comeback.






