Young Indian player Leon Mendonca wins in Hungary, earns second GM norm

Young Indian International grasp Leon Luke Mendonca gained a GM event in Hungary with a spherical to spare to shut in on the coveted Grandmaster title. The 14-year outdated participant from Goa gained the First Saturday GM November 2020 occasion in Budapest late on Monday to earn his second Grandmaster norm within the house of 21 days. He wants yet one more norm to earn the GM title.

Mendonca (Elo 2516) completed with 7.5 factors and gained the title with a spherical to spare. He remained unbeaten within the occasion and scored wins over two Grandmasters. He posted six wins and three attracts within the nine-round championship.

He had in late October successful the Rigochess International Chess Festival Grandmaster event in Hungary the place he gained his maiden GM norm.

“Extremely happy with my performance having won the tournament and the norm with a round to spare,” he advised PTI from Budapest.

In the opening spherical, he drew in opposition to greater rated GM Plat Vojtech of the Czech Republic (Elo 2562). In the subsequent spherical, Leon beat Hungary’s Fogarasi Tibor, a Grandmaster, which he rated as his greatest within the event.

The 14-year outdated, who has been away from dwelling for 9 months, alongside together with his father Lyndon, taking part in occasions in Europe. The duo doesn’t appear to be in a rush to get again dwelling with an eye fixed on Leon’s last GM norm.

Leon might be taking part in an invitational event to be held close to Budapest from November 21 because the push for the ultimate (GM) continues, Mendonca stated.

“We had planned (to play) Rigo’s GMRR event but the organisers cancelled it. So, we decided to play this event (Kumania Mestervernseny). It has been challenging to stay in Europe and for him to compete in events. We have been staying in Airbnb rooms. Also, it has been difficult to plan for tournaments due to the uncertainty. But it has been rewarding one though…,” the senior Mendonca added.

The two plan to return to India for Christmas however hope that Leon would have the ability to obtain the third and last GM norm and turn into a Grandmaster.

“We hope to be back (in India) for Christmas. But we are taking it one day at a time,” he stated.

Leon interacts together with his coach Vishnu Prasanna in Chennai frequently with prolonged classes on non-game days, Lyndon Mendonca stated.

Leon Mendonca had left for Moscow in February alongside together with his father to play within the Aeroflot Open which featured a number of different Indian gamers and headed to Budapest after an occasion in Vietnam bought postponed because of the coronavirus and bought held up there because of the journey restrictions.