NEW DELHI: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” is a saying mined by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.
For Vantika Agrawal, it was the simple, yet mesmerising, sight of chess pieces gliding across the 64 squares that set her on a path to preeminence.
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From a wide-eyed child fascinated by the knight’s unique hop to standing tall as a double gold medallist at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, Vantika’s story that started with a single move, now takes a thousand miles.
As the latest recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award, she continues to prove that even in a land where chess culture is scarce, a determined mind can sense a way out and carve its own path.
“I felt on top of the world,” she told TimesofIndia.com — her excitement evident after receiving the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan almost a month ago.
The award wasn’t just a personal victory but a well-crafted story that would’ve always remained under the stones had she never decided to prioritise chess over everything else.
How chess found Vantika
“Before chess, I was involved in a lot of activities, like skating, dancing, music, art, cricket, and more. I mean, I was playing all kinds of sports and engaging in these activities,” said Vantika.
The affair with chess began serendipitously during her school’s zero period. At just seven-and-a-half-years-old, she and her brother, Vishesh, stumbled into the chess room of Amity International in Noida.
The game’s unique mechanics filled her with awe, and soon enough, she persuaded her mother to enrol them at Genius Chess Academy in Noida before transitioning to home coaching under Manish Unyal.
One tournament led to another, and before she knew it, she was winning state, national, Asian, and World Championships. As she put it, “After my first tournament win, I never looked back.”
Navigating challenges in north India’s ‘chess desert’
While her training started with local coaches, she eventually sought guidance from grandmasters like Praveen Thipsay, Tejas Bakre, and Vishnu Prasanna.
But the transition was not as smooth as it might look from the outskirts.
“The challenge that I faced is like (one) I’m still facing. In north India, there is no culture of chess. In the south, you have academies, but here, no culture,” she admitted.
Lack of a chess culture led to existential questions.
“If someone asks what you do, and you say, ‘I’m a chess player,’ their response is usually, ‘Okay, but what do you actually do? What are you studying?’ I think it’s still the same story, even after winning so many medals. People still ask, ‘Chess is fine, but what do you really do?'” she said with a chuckle.
Tacking these everyday challenges, Vantina is now aiming even higher, but it is not without any support.
Behind every aspiring Indian chess mind of this current generation is a parent who sacrifices everything to help their child succeed. For Vantika, that pillar of support has been her mother.
Despite being a Chartered Accountant, her mother left her job to travel with her across India and the world, ensuring she never missed a tournament.
“Without her, none of this would have been possible,” Vantika added, unable to put her gratitude into words.
Vantika Agrawal: The making of a champion
File photo of Vantika Agrawal. (Image: Lennart Ootes)
During her formative years, Vantika dedicated two to three hours daily to chess, gradually increasing her training to six to eight hours.
Her rigorous routine includes solving puzzles, reading books by world champions like Bobby Fischer, Mikhail Tal, and Vishwanathan Anand, and working with top coaches.
“You have to read a lot to get insights and knowledge. Chess books are like hidden treasures,” explained the 22-year-old who is part of Viswanathan Anand‘s WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA).
During tournaments, her schedule is even more disciplined — morning yoga and meditation, breakfast, preparation, intense matches, post-game analysis, and studying opponent strategies for the next round.
When asked about different chess formats — Classical, Rapid, Blitz, and Chess960 — Vantika expressed, “Blitz is my favourite because of its fast-paced nature, but Chess960 is fascinating since it removes opening preparations and makes you rely entirely on skill.”
Vantika Agrawal is a three-time gold medalist at the Chess Olympiad. (Image: Instagram)
Despite her monumental achievements, though, Vantika is still fighting for recognition on the global stage.
Unlike many international grandmasters who receive invitations to Elite tournaments, she has to rely on Open tournaments to improve her rating.
“I won two gold medals at the Olympiad, but I’m still not getting invitations to top-tier tournaments,” she remarked.
Yet, she remains undeterred, focused on proving herself by competing in every possible open tournament.
Her ultimate goal? To continue refining her game, work with top Indian and international Grandmasters, and keep making her mark in the world of 64 squares.
