It is not often that one gets to have a conversation with a 16-year-old who is mature beyond her years. Her maturity is best reflected in her articulation of where she draws her motivation from. “In the early days, winning matches was the inspiration. Over time, I found greater sense in finding motivation in my love for the game,” she says. “I just want to enjoy giving my 100 per cent.”
Shivika Rohilla explains that this change happened when she took a break from playing a few years ago. “It allowed me to discover that I could not live without Chess. It is not the winning or losing but just the freedom I feel each time I sit on the board that drives me,” says the Delhi-based school girl who is No. 93 on the World Chess Federation (FIDE) World Ranking for Girls.
Nudge her to recall her best example of holding together under stress and she loses no time in remembering a second round match with Woman International Master Luong Phuong Hanh (Vietnam) in Budapest in May this year when she made her first Woman International Master norm with 4-1/2 points.
“I had started well but blundered. I realised I could not let my opponent figure that that out and kept a poker face. In fact, I got up and walked around the hall as if I was in a commanding position. Luckily for me, Luong Phuong Hanh did not catch on and I was able to crawl my way back to win the full point,” she said of the 63-move battle that left her with two extra and well placed pawns.
The Woman International Master title is Shivika Rohilla’s immediate goal while the Woman Grand Master is expectedly on her radar as well. “I have told myself that I should get the WIM title by the end of year and have set a two-year target for the WGM title,” says the girl who idolises Anish Giri’s survival instinct based on research and novelties and Magnus Carlsen’s technique.
She realises that she has work to do and that is the reason she spends hours in practice, solving puzzles and studying structures in games from around the world. “I do manage to go out with my friends,” she says, revealing that she is not the sort who would speak about missing the ‘normal life’ of a teenager. “But yes, Chess is a habit, it is a big part of who I am.”
Coached by Vishal Sareen and Grand Master Tejas Bakre, she also falls back on sports psychologist Dr. Nanaki Chadha. Such solid support, backed by her parents, helps her sharpen her focus during the long training sessions. “There is one objective, look at the shortcomings and work on them, and spend time on research so that I can be ready to face any situation on the board,” she says.
Shivika Rohilla smiles when she recalls how she developed her passion for the game of 64 squares. “I was six and a half when my mother introduced me to Chess. I suspect it was to stop me from idling in front a TV screen and to nudge me towards doing something productive. I started developing a liking to the game as it challenged me,” she says.
She articulates her love for Chess and Physics in simple, yet delightful, terms. “Chess is all about calculations, strategy and mental strength. Physics entails calculation, theory and an understanding of life. If find a greater similarity that Chess has with Physics than with Mathematics, which is logic and calculation,” she says. “In Chess, you apply what you have learnt from each game.”
Talking of her maturity, the 16-year-old daughter of doctor parents has a good answer to the question about a Haryana athlete picked Chess and not Athletics or Boxing or Wrestling. “Chess is as much a combination of aggression and defence, isn’t it?” she asks. “It may seem a quiet, unemotional game but those who play it know the aggression and emotions needed to win.”
There is no doubt that Chess is an integral part of her life and Shivila Rohilla, all of 16, has not had the opportunity to question herself why she is doing what she is doing. But should that situation occur in the future, you can be sure that maturity and the support system around her will have combined to help her have ready answers.
Photo: Courtesy Delhi Chess Association
