Indian Origin Teen Becomes Ireland's First International Chess Master

She is all of fourteen and making waves globally. Trisha Kanyamarala, an Indian origin teenager has become Ireland's first Woman International Master (WIM). Trisha who is originally from Hyderabad scored 6.5 points out of 9 rounds in WIM earlier this week. Trisha has been playing chess since 2014. Nandita, Trisha's mother is a junior's officer at the Irish chess union and encouraged her daughter to take up the sport. Trisha's role model is our very own Koneru Humpy. Her closest inspiration is her brother Tarun, who also plays chess at an international level.

Trisha Kanyamarala with her family - Youtube, Chessbase India

What We Know:

• Trisha Kanyamarala became Ireland's first Woman International Master. She is just 14 years old.
• Trisha has been playing chess since 2014. Nandita, Trisha's mother is a junior's officer at the Irish chess union and oversees the progress of the Under-19 age-group players.
• Tarun, Trisha's elder brother is a Fide Master. Last November Tarun won a Limerick open in Ireland.
• Trisha's role model is none other than the world Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy. She also admires the way D Harika plays.

About Trisha's Game And Journey

At the Irish New year norm event, Trisha won her third and final WIM norm.A norm in chess is a high level of performance in a chess tournament. Several norms are one of the requirements to receive a title such as Grandmaster from FIDE. Last year, Trisha won only WIM norm and the IIFL wealth international chess tournament in Mumbai. Following this she won her second and third norms in Ireland. Trisha has been playing Chess since 2014. Dayanand Kanyamarala, Trisha's father is an engineer whereas her mother Nandita is a microbiologist. Nandita is also a junior's officer at the Irish chess union and oversees the progress of the U-19 age-group players.

Read also: Why There’s A Separate World Chess Championship For Women

Tarun, Trisha's elder brother is a FIDE Master (Introduced in 1978, FM ranks below the title of International Master but ahead of Candidate Master.). Last November Tarun won a Limerick open in Ireland. Trisha told the Times Of India that watching her brother play chess inspired her to take up the sport. Said she, "I took a liking for chess after watching him play. We constantly practice at home and our institution - Portlaoise College - too helps in every way possible. Me and my brother participate in tournaments together."

Despite taking a break from the sport for two years, Humpy showed great character to make a comeback and perform at her peak. - Trisha on why she admires Koneru Humpy

Trisha and Tarun have started a chess club in their school with an intention to promote the sport. The sibling duo also has its own YouTube challenge where they post videos related to chess and share their views on the sport. Trisha told TOI, "Students are taking a lot of interest in this sport and we are happy to play our part in it."

Read also: Chess: Divya Deshmukh Ranked First In India’s U-16 Girls’ Category

Her Role Models

Trisha's role model is none other than the world Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy, revealing that she admires the composure she shows in her game and would love to imbibe that. "Despite taking a break from the sport for two years, Humpy showed great character to make a comeback and perform at her peak," she said. Apart from Humpy, Trisha also likes the way D Harika plays.

Mansi is an Intern at SheThePeople.TV