Mumbai: Age is never a bar when talent is present in abundance. That exactly seems to be the case with Mumbai girl Anaishaa Nahar of the Vibgyor High School of Goregaon. At a tender age of five, she made history by clinching the silver medal in her maiden states with a year in advance at the recently concluded illustrious U-7 Maharashtra State Chess Championships held at the Dharavi Sports Complex, Sion.
She showed an indomitable spirit as she played like a champion, winning the first five games in a row. She fearlessly took on Swarali Hatvalne from Solapur in the sixth round and put up a brave show, before the latter’s experience came into play as eventually Anaisha had to settle for the silver. Trisha Jagtap, also from Mumbai won the bronze medal with 6.5 points to her name.
Nonetheless, South Mumbai Chess Academy (SMCA) trainee Anaishaa had a wonderful campaign, scoring seven points out of eight. The extra-ordinary show from the five-year-old has naturally raised the bar for herself. “Considering her age, she is really well ahead of her contemporaries and a great prospect for the country if things fall in places,” admitted her SMCA coach Balaji Guttula.
The Mumbai wonderkid also had won the U-6 Singapore Open Championship last year and she is currently gearing up for the World Youth Chess Championships which is scheduled to be held in Brazil this later this month.
She would also represent her state at the National Championship, slated to be held in Vijayawada next month.
In the boys’ category, Saarth Bhosale with seven points took the title home surpassing Rokade Ishar of Nashik (silver) and Aditya Kunal Patil of Mumbai (bronze).
A total of 190 players took part in the competition conducted and organised by the Mumbai City District Chess Association.