Chess is the only game for Shubhi and her family

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Karrom was Shubhi Gupta’s first love at the age of three. After that, he started playing ludo. Within a few months, he turned his attention to chess, a family of four, including his father, mother and brother.

In fact, it was his father Pradeep Gupta who introduced the family to chess. The family does not watch TV or spend time on social media.

Shubhi’s string of international medals this year, including a gold medal in the under-12 category at the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship in Sri Lanka this week, reflects her love for the sport. Shubhi, 11, from Ghaziabad scored a perfect 9/9 in this tournament.

In September this year, Shubhi won the Under-12 World Cadet Chess Championship in Batumi, Georgia.

“This was my first big event after winning the national title in April this year, so I was convinced that I needed to come home with a medal and that was my plan,” said Shubhi.

“Before I chose chess, I had never played any sport other than carrom, ludo and table tennis. I like to solve puzzles,” said Shubhi, who also won three silver medals in standard, rapid and blitz categories at the West Asian Junior Chess Championship held in the Maldives in June this year.

In May 2022, Shubhi, who won the National Amateur Chess Championship in May 2000, won a bronze medal in the Junior Chess Championship in March and also won a silver medal in the U-11 category at the Asian Schools Chess Championship. Philippines in July 2021.

“I haven’t watched TV for two years and I only focus on chess. That’s the only thing on my mind right now. I am aiming to reach the women’s GM norms in three years as titles at the World and Commonwealth youth events have boosted my confidence,” said Shubhi, who is coached by Prasenjit Dutta.

Shubhi’s mother Urmila Gupta accompanies her to as many events as possible around the world.

“She (Urmila) learned chess only after she got married to me, and later this sport became the biggest love in the family. Now when Urmila goes to events with Shubhi, she teaches her about the game,” said Pradeep.

“In fact, during the lockdown, Shubhi practiced playing against all of us at home. We all play chess at home, and recently I gave my children a mobile phone. Otherwise, they had chess as their only pastime,” said Gupta.

He describes Shubhi as calm and reserved. “She (Shubhi) always remains calm and composed and that is her strength in the sport. At the beginning of his career, he was a bit struggling, but with time he has matured in his game and now he has become a completely different player,” added Pradeep.