Leon Luke Mendonca Interview | Olympiad efficiency reveals the progress India has made

Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca, who performed within the Challengers’ part of the second version of the Chennai Grandmasters classical chess event not too long ago, spoke concerning the reputation of chess in Goa, his travels for coaching, how GM Vishnu Prasanna modified his taking part in method, his breakthrough title triumph on the prestigious Tata Metal Challengers (Wijk aan Zee) in January and his main takeaway from it, the inspirational gold-winning efficiency of the India males’s crew on the 2024 Olympiad, and his short-term purpose. Excerpts:

You might be solely the second chess Grandmaster from Goa, a State one wouldn’t usually affiliate with chess. So, how large a sport is chess in Goa?

So, chess shouldn’t be too distinguished in Goa. I feel the primary time we just about heard about chess was when this lady Ivana Furtado received double golds or one thing on the earth youths (u-8 World Championship twice in a row). I’m undecided what number of years again, however fairly a very long time again (2006 and 2007). That was the primary time Goa just about heard of chess. However nonetheless, it was not a giant factor. It nonetheless shouldn’t be very large in Goa.

Coming from Goa, a spot with little or no affiliation with chess in any respect, how did you get into chess? If you happen to can shortly share the journey you’ve had…

My journey was type of a bit completely different. My household by no means had a chess background. We by no means knew something about chess till my sister began taking part in. So, my elder sister first began taking part in. I feel she acquired a chess set or one thing for her birthday. And she or he began taking part in casually. Then slowly, she turned extra inquisitive about it. And my dad and mom enrolled her with one native academy. A pair was instructing chess to youngsters. So, she began going to that academy. I additionally type of understood the principles by then. And she or he would come again from the teachings and present me some issues she realized from there. So, that was how I first began.

And I appreciated to play. Like, I’d often simply sit and play a sport for each side. That’s how I began taking part in to start with. Then, my dad and mom realised that I used to be . So, additionally they enrolled me with the identical individuals. And slowly, I even began taking part in some native tournaments in Goa.

So then, I began taking part in tournaments in India (outdoors Goa) as nicely. Quickly, I began taking part in some age class occasions outdoors India as nicely. After which, my first open event outdoors India was in 2016. It simply continued and by no means stopped.

Did you go wherever outdoors Goa for coaching?

They by no means actually did on-line coaching an excessive amount of. At the least, on-line wasn’t an actual factor again then. So, it was largely simply in-person coaching. And in addition, we most well-liked it that means.

So, to start with, I used to be coaching with numerous coaches in Goa. The primary time I went outdoors Goa for coaching was with Akash Thakur sir in Nagpur. He had like an additional visitor room. So, he allowed us to remain there. He was a FIDE grasp and an excellent coach. He instilled in me some good coaching habits. He was among the best trainers I’ve had in my early development. He principally instilled in me lots of good values and skilled me very nicely.

And in addition different coaches like Rajesh Bahadur from Madhya Pradesh. Shashikant Kutwal, who’s Akash Thakur’s buddy. He’s from Pune.

Then, my first extended coaching with anyone was with R.B. Ramesh sir. Right here in Chennai (Chess Gurukul). I used to be rated 1600 or 1700 (Elo score) again then. I feel it was to start with of 2015. And he would have these regular coaching classes for the individuals in Chennai. So, we used to go particularly to Chennai only for these coaching classes. Typically, we’d keep there for lengthy intervals of time simply to get the coaching. And that, after all, helped me tremendously and improved my stage rather a lot. I used to be there till the start of 2018.

Then, I began coaching with Vishnu Prasanna sir. He’s mentoring me proper now. Simply giving me psychological recommendation. He’s my mentor and can be my mentor. He introduced me to a brand new stage and helped me perceive chess in a way more broader horizon.

If you happen to could be a bit extra particular as to what he did…

So, earlier than that, I used to be simply coaching chess, like, for outcomes. I skilled to get higher to get good outcomes. However he made me perceive chess from a philosophical standpoint – understanding the sport, learning the sport, forgetting about outcomes and all that stuff. So, simply to check the sport, the character of the sport. That type of viewpoint he instilled in me.

At first, it was very complicated as a result of I’d by no means seen chess this manner. However slowly, I received used to it and it undoubtedly helped me perceive chess rather a lot higher. And, after all, chess-wise, he has skilled me fairly a bit and he introduced me from 2200 (Elo) to the place I’m proper now. Apart from that, I’ve additionally been with WACA (WestBridge Anand Chess Academy).

So, you’ve travelled fairly a bit for coaching. Out of your perspective, which place has a really robust chess tradition in India?

Positively, Chennai. It’s the chess capital of India and I really feel like I used to come back to Chess Gurukul very often in these days. So, it simply felt like coming house, really.

In January this 12 months, you received the Tata Metal Challengers in Wijk aan Zee (The Netherlands). How was it taking part in in such a prestigious event?

To begin with, I used to be very lucky to get an invite. I’m fairly certain Vishy (Viswanathan Anand) sir put in phrase to the organiser. Taking part in that occasion was a fantastic expertise, as a result of it’s generally known as the Wimbledon of chess. I wished to win the event, undoubtedly. However, after all, I knew it was not going to be tremendous simple.

And it undoubtedly wasn’t. I used to be all the time within the second place, however by no means actually successful till I received the chance within the final spherical. So, it was fairly surprising. However primarily, I used to be simply specializing in taking part in my greatest and simply giving my greatest in each sport. After which, the factor of consequence solely got here on the finish – within the final spherical – as a result of I all of the sudden had likelihood.

Usually, it was simply an excellent expertise. I performed very robust gamers as nicely.

Would you say that it’s a significant breakthrough in your profession?

Sure, I feel so.

So, what’s the key takeaway from the event?

I imply I understood my fashion a bit extra as a result of I all of the sudden began outplaying individuals in chaotic conditions, which I didn’t know I may do earlier than. So, I solely found it throughout that event. And I received many video games within the second half of the event due to that.

I simply loved the expertise, and I’m joyful that I’ve received the chance to play subsequent 12 months as nicely as a result of I received.

How are you wanting ahead to that?

It’s going to be my first tremendous event. I’m very excited. After this occasion right here in Chennai, I’ll be making ready full-time for it. And I received’t play any extra open occasions.

You mentioned that you simply kind of understood your fashion on the Tata Metal Challengers. So, how would you describe your fashion?

It’s onerous to grasp myself. Typically, I play nicely in sluggish conditions, and not too long ago, I’ve additionally been taking part in nicely in chaotic conditions. I imply I keep in mind in Tata Metal, I feel 5 video games out of 13, my King was roaming round like insanity. However someway, I didn’t lose a single of these video games.

So, sure, since then I’ve found that I may try this. Additionally, in latest tournaments, I’ve performed some video games like that.

Would you say that you simply’ve develop into extra resilient?

I feel I’ve all the time been like that, however even in these conditions, it was extra obvious. Suppose it was only a useless loss, then I’d create probabilities. I feel, sure, it introduced out that resilience in me.

Did you observe India males’s gold-medal successful efficiency on the 2024 Olympiad? How inspiring was it?

It’s very inspiring. As a result of, India had by no means received a gold, but it surely was fairly obvious that they had been the favourites. So, it simply reveals the progress that Indian chess has made.

And I’m very joyful to be part of this technology of India taking on chess. I imply they made a dominating stance in Hungary. And sure, they performed very nicely – all of them.

Was there anybody or anybody’s play that was significantly spectacular? As an illustration, we’ve had individuals raving about Gukesh’s endgame versus China’s Wei Yi…

Sure, I feel that was one of many turning factors. Possibly, the turning level for India taking the gold. That match in opposition to China. It was a really tense sport and within the final second, it turned difficult and Gukesh took over. So, that value China the match and introduced the victory to India.

However usually, I feel all of them did very well. Even Arjun simply saved successful video games. He’s so good at that. Simply retains successful. I feel all of them did nicely and performed nicely on the proper moments.

You might be from Goa, the place individuals usually go to chill out and have enjoyable, and have develop into a GM at 14! Are you an bold particular person?

Truly, it’s true that Goa has received that popularity. However my dad and mom are just about regular individuals. My mom is a health care provider, and my father is an engineer. I grew up fairly usually and down to earth. The truth is, I’m the final particular person to go to a celebration.

Usually, I’m bold. I haven’t progressed so far as I assumed I ought to have since I turned GM. However sure, my ambition hasn’t slowed down.

Do you might have any short-term purpose that you simply wish to obtain?

I need to develop into 2700 (Elo) first. I imply I’ve been at 2600 for the final one-and-a-half years. So, I feel it’s lengthy sufficient and I ought to make the soar quickly.