Kenya Under-8 Chess Champion Talks to ICA

Sharanya Iyengar, Winner in Girls – Under 8 age category at
Kenya National Chess Championship 2010 held at Nairobi in May


ICA : Congratulation for winning national chess championship.
Sharanya : Hi, Thank you.

ICA : How many games you played in nationals ? Did you win all of them?
Sharanya : 6 games in first phase and 6 games in final phase. I won 4 games in first phase and all 6 games in final phase.

ICA : What prize did you get there?
Sharanya : Trophy and a certificate at each phase.

ICA : In which standard you study in school?
Sharanya : Standard 3

ICA : How your teachers and friends in school re-acted when you went back to school after tournament?
Sharanya : They congratulated me at the assembly event.

ICA : At what age did you start learning chess? Who taught you chess? Who is you present coach. How much time you give to chess?
Sharanya : 7 & ½ years, my grandmother first taught me chess. My present coach is Latha Sathya.
I play 3 games of chess everyday.

ICA : Do you have any other hobby? Do you play other games?
Sharanya : Yes, art and crafts. I love to play monopoly and uno cards.

ICA : Do you have elder brother or sister in your family? Can you win against you mother, father and siblings ? ( Most of my 7-year old students don't like to play chess with parents. Do you know why? Because they can beat parents too easily !!)
Sharanya : I am the only child, Yes, I can win in chess against my parents. I like to play chess with my parents as they also play tough and I always learn something, specially from my father.

ICA : Have you been to India ? If so,how do you like India?
Sharanya : Yes, I was born in India and I visit once every year. I love INDIA.

ICA : Will you like to play with my students of your age on net?
Sharanya : Sure, would love to play with them.

ICA : Now you have to play in much tougher tournaments in future so prepare well. Our academy wishes you very best in chess tournaments and life.
Sharanya : Thank you, I also wish good luck to the students at your academy.