The next big thing in chess

Initiated into the mind game when he was all of six years old, Luksh Jain Pokarna’s achievements belie his age. So composed and unnerved he is across the board that he is today the top-ranked Under-8 boy with a stupendous Elo rating of 1229!

As the 2017 chess season picks up steam in the State, all eyes will be on the moves of a prodigiously gifted first standard student, who is leaving elders in the fraternity with his exploits against higher age-group players, who also enjoy a bigger reputation.

Meet Luksh Jain Pokarna, a student of Sri Aurobindo Montessori House of Children in West Marredpally, whose achievements belie his age and speak volumes about the latent talent that takes shape from a sound temperament.

Initiated into the mind game when he was all of six years at the behest of his parents, Shrinek Kumar Jain and Vandana, the November 3, 2009-born has been under the tutelage of Venkat Mahadev, whose coaching regimen has helped produce an impressive number of State champions and international players, over the years.

Luksh has demonstrated a natural ability to master the royal sport if one goes by his impressive resume that shows top finishes in myriad championships.

So composed and unnerved he is across the board that he is today the top-ranked Under-8 boy with a stupendous Elo rating of 1229!

Of course, to those watching his steady rise, this has not come as any surprise because ‘Luksh is blessed with a sharp presence of mind that helps make situational amends, which can be a potent weapon in chess, particularly in decisive positions’.

According to Mahadev, his protégé has been making a mark right from the time he made a competitive debut with a hat-trick of Under-7 title triumphs in May and June of last year, including the Brilliant Trophy first decade All India Fide-rated Open tournament, the Kari Subba Rao Memorial Under-9 tournament and the Kasinadhuni Rajya Laxmi Memorial first international Fide-rating open tournament.

If one were to take this baptism as a benchmark, then his performances in July were considerably modest. He finished runner-up in the inaugural Komaraiah Chess Academy tournament at Delhi Public School and the Kasinadhuni Samba Siva Rao Memorial 1st International Fide-rating (below 1600), where, incidentally, he held his ground despite being pitted against ‘veterans’ in the field!

Although, he was back to his winning ways soon, Luksh earned plaudits with his showing in the Nationals held at Pondicherry in September and the Begumpet rapid chess tournament, later.

His top drawer consistency was to the fore in the season-ending Hyderabad open Fide-rating tournament, where he finished second besides being the fifth best unrated player. This was a morale-booster as he defeated players who were more aged and with more experience. That propelled his Fide Rating to 1229, which is nothing short of being outstanding.

A player who is equally good in his academics, he is right now setting his eyes on the bigger challenges ahead, particularly during the summer holidays.

For one whose ambition is ‘to be the youngest Grandmaster’, his other interests include skating, swimming, and abacus.

No wonder that unlike most players of Gen Next, his role model is quite unique-the unofficial American world champion of the 1880s, Paul Charles Morphy, who was hailed as a chess prodigy, like no other.

For the moment, he spends around two to three hours of quality time working on his game at Viju Chess Academy where his coach Venkat Mahadev brings in his expertise to ensure that Luksh Jain Pokarna will be the next big name on the national firmament.

- Sridhar K Penna