Savitha Shri: How father’s gamble with his own career built Chess Olympiad hero

On Thursday, India's Chess Olympiad teams faced a critical juncture as their fortunes shifted rapidly. In the open section, world champion Gukesh faced Azerbaijan's Mahammad Muradli in a crucial game that could secure a win for India. However, Gukesh failed to convert his advantage, resulting in a draw. In the women's section, it was Savitha Shri's turn to save the Indian hopes for a gold medal, as her teammate Vaishali had lost to Kazakhstani IM Alua Nurman.

Despite the slim chance of a win, Savitha managed to turn a dead draw into a decisive victory. Prior to the Samarkand 2026 Chess Olympiad, Savitha was not initially part of the Indian Olympiad team. She made her debut as a reserve player, stepping in when one of the top four players rested. Over the past eight rounds of competition, Savitha emerged virtually unstoppable, winning all seven of her games while India suffered defeat only once.

Back home in Chennai, Savitha's father, Baskar, reflected on the decision to quit his job and move back to India to support her chess career when she was young. Baskar, an electrical technician in Singapore, recognized his daughter's exceptional talent and decided to become her full-time chaperone. This decision proved to be a significant gamble, as the costs of nurturing a chess player can be astronomical, with travel and coaching expenses quickly depleting savings.

Despite the financial strain, Baskar's unwavering commitment to Savitha's aspirations paid off when she became India's top-ranked player in terms of performance during the Samarkand 2026 Chess Olympiad.