Pursue chess without a safety net

Vedant Panesar from Mumbai topped the Qualifiers and earned a spot in next year's Wijk aan Zee Challengers chess

- Susan Ninan

BENGALURU: Earlier this month, a lesser-known Indian returned from Wijk aan Zee with a first-place finish. While Praggnanandhaa won the much-vaunted Masters title in the Dutch coastal village, becoming only the second Indian to do so after Viswanathan Anand, Vedant Panesar, a 21-year-old from Andheri, Mumbai, who shared the same playing hall, topped the Qualifiers. It earned him a spot in next year's Wijk aan Zee Challengers.

He ventures that he's picked up over a dozen International Master (IM) norms along the way. Panesar, who has an Elo rating of 2446, interestingly, has chosen not to apply for an IM title.

"I completed my IM title back in 2023, maybe November or December. But I decided not to apply for the title," Panesar told Hindustan Times.

"I want to be detached from results and focusing solely on my growth and process. An IM title might open up doors and help with tournaments. But I was ready to give it up. One of the problems I've observed with a lot of players, especially in Maharashtra, is that once they get the IM title, they either retire or switch to coaching. So, I told myself that the best way to pursue chess is by not having a safety net."

Panesar finished unbeaten and half a point ahead of the rest of the field in Wijk aan Zee with 6/9.