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| Dibyendu explains a move to Dishan. Pictures: Pabitra Das |
The father won a silver at the Commonwealth and South African Open Chess Championships 2013 held in Port Elizabeth last month. The son was the Best Player (U-14) at the same tourney. Yes, Dibyendu Barua (46) and Dishan Barua (14). The pawn might be their common link, but their priorities are as different as black and white. A t2 chat with the Baruas of Salt Lake days after their return from South Africa...
Dibyendu, which performance made you more happy?
Dibyendu: Definitely Dishan’s performance because he is not at all serious. He has a casual, an amateur approach. Last year, we had gone to Europe and he had won a championship in Netherlands in the below 2,000- rating category. That was his first win. We thought he would fare well at the Commonwealth Championship, but that he would win a medal and fight for championship, it was quite unexpected. Throughout the tournament he was leading, taking a joint lead and at one point, a solo lead too. Unfortunately, he lost in the last round. It’s okay. Overall, it was a good show. We are hoping that this performance will motivate him for future tournaments. Maybe he will take chess a little more seriously and maybe play (fulltime) as well. His school (St. James’) has really helped him. His principal is a sports lover. This time Dishan had his half-early exams. The school made sure that he could write his exams before so that he could go play this tournament.
Dishan: Yes, and we celebrated watching Despicable Me 2!
Dishan, your dad says you are not serious about chess. Don’t you like chess?
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| My favourite guitarist is Joe Satriani. I would like to hear Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen at a live concert — Dishan |
Dishan: I like playing it, but not learning...
Dad Dibyendu and mom Saheli laugh out loud (Saheli, also a chess star, has just joined the chat)
Dishan: I find it boring!
What?! Dibyendu, how do you react when Dishan says that?
Dibyendu: It’s okay. We are used to it. We don’t put pressure on him. I think he started playing at three or four. We had thought he would take it up seriously and professionally. But later we understood that he wasn’t serious at all. First it was dance, now music which keeps him occupied....
Dishan, did you take up chess after seeing your parents play?
Dishan: May be.
Dibyendu: (Smiles) Ours is a chess family. Both my dad and my father-in-law play.... Maybe he took to the game because of the environment. But then, he never showed any interest, so we never pursued it. He is also very irregular at my academy (Dibyebdu Barua Chess Academy (42 Ballygunge Place and FD-437, Salt Lake).
Dishan, your dad has too many complaints!
Dishan smiles
Dibyendu: He likes playing tournaments. He enjoys that, but not the preparation it entails!
Saheli: And then the tournament has to be held under good conditions... the hall has to be a nice one!
Dibyendu: If he is going for the nationals, he has to stay in a good place. He knows if he is travelling with us, he will stay in a good place. This attitude is not something that we encourage, though.
You don’t want to be a Grandmaster like your dad?
Dishan: No.
So, what is it that you like about the game?
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| Yes, he can play the piano too! |
Dishan: I just like playing it! There is no one aspect that I like in particular. I usually play for a couple of hours when I want to.
Do you often play with your parents?
Dibyendu: He plays more with his mother. Now, he is starting to win too and he enjoys that!
What about beating your dad?
Dishan: Not yet! (Smiles) That’s a dream.
Your dad said you loved dancing. What kind of dance?
Dishan: It was contemporary dance.
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| The Baruas with Garry Kasparov at the Commonwealth Chess Championships |
Did you get inspired after watching any performance?
Dishan: Not really…
Dibyendu: Hrithik Roshan!
Saheli: Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai.
Dibyendu: He was a huge Hrithik Roshan fan. I think he has seen the film a hundred times!
Saheli: We had to keep the Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai cassette in the car at all times.
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| Dishan, a Ronaldo fan, at the Bernabeu for a Real Madrid game |
Dishan: The Ek pal ka jeena step was my favourite.
And now it’s music for you?
Dishan: Music and football. I like western music… rock, hip hop, blues. I love listening to Green Day, Adele, Taylor Swift, The Beatles. Right now, I am hooked to Megadeth’s Sweating Bullets. I learn the guitar. My favourite guitarist is Joe Satriani. I would like to hear Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen (Swedish guitarist) at a live concert.
Dibyendu, he clearly has things different from chess in mind...
Dibyendu: Completely different…. Music is good, too…
But don’t you feel bad that he’s not so passionate about chess, given that this is a chess family?
Saheli: Maybe there is too much of chess in the family.
Dibyendu: Maybe because we are thinking about chess all the time… so much theory. Getting your theory right is a must. If he has to do well, he has to practise at least four hours a day. We are always there for him. If he shows interest, we will definitely support him.
Saheli: In fact, after this win, he is showing interest.
Dibyendu: The more he loses, the better he will understand that it doesn’t come easy. If this interest stays, we will help him.
Dishan: I watch Magnus Carlsen’s (world number 1) games, his openings.
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| Dishan sketched for the first time during his South Africa trip. His character choice number one? God of War, a game he loves playing |
Dibyendu: He tries to follow his style. When we analyse his game, sometimes we are surprised by his openings… where did he pick it up from? Because, he never trains with us.
Saheli: He follows other top players like Alexander Morozevich and Garry Kasparov. It would have been better if this interest had come a little early. He is in Class IX. There is a lot of academic pressure now. We are not the kind who would tell him to stop playing chess because his first big exam is around the corner. But whether he would be able to invest the kind of concentration and effort required in competitive chess is the question. There is no pressure from us. If he wants to play just chess, we are okay.
So, Dishan what is your priority?
Dishan: Music. Then it is football, studies and then chess! I like Cristiano Ronaldo’s dribble and my favourite team is Chelsea. I am a left winger. I would like to play in Real Madrid someday! (Smiles)
Dibyendu: So, there is no hope! (Laughs) I think the most memorable moment in his life was when he saw Ronaldo play last year. We saw Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad. We were touring Spain then.
Dishan: Ronaldo missed a hat-trick! I would like to see Eden Hazard (of Chelsea) play.
Dibyendu: At 12, I was a state champ. At 13, I won an U-14 World bronze.
Saheli: I started at Dishan’s age. So, it’s never too late.
Dibyendu: But chess back then wasn’t so developed. Now, the general strength of the players is very high. Computers have made all the difference. Maybe we will put him under a different coach. We are parents, after all. That pressure might not be there. And he is scared of neither of us!
Dibyendu on Dishan: Maybe he will take chess a little more seriously now
