Puducherry Student Peter Anand Wins World Title in Amateur Chess

Tell My Story

World Amateur Chess Champion Peter Anand from Puducherry hopes to become a Grand Master soon.

21-year-old Peter Anand a college student in Puducherry is the new World Amateur Chess Champion in the under 2000 rating category. He won this at Rhodes, Greece in the competition held between 16 and 26 October.

Sounding happy, Peter told tellmystory.in “I am so proud and happy. I am also the first from Puducherry to become a FIDE Master”.

This ranking and elevation have given Peter a direct entry to the World Amateur Chess Championship scheduled in Italy next year. Peter who presently ranks 1872 says “I want to become a Grand Master securing the 2500 rating. This event sponsors me fully”.

On his challenges amid the pandemic Peter says “I attended a lot of tournaments online. I also gained good practice online. The lockdown actually helped me”.

Peter who’s doing his integrated BA B Ed degree at Pope John Paul II College of Education would miss an upcoming championship in Spain as it clashes with his exams. He says “my semester exams are scheduled that time and I’d have internship as well”.

Though the young player is acquiring a degree to qualify himself as a school teacher just like his mother, he added “I want to be a professional chess player and even coach others”.

Anand was motivated to play chess during his childhood when his father used to play with his elder brother. “I love the mind game and working on a strategy in the game. Even a little mistake would cost heavy” he says.

His father has retired from government and his mother is a teacher. His elder brother met with an accident and is fighting paralysis.

The young champion in Puducherry who met the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor recently hopes some government support could help him take wings.