Student Achiever: ‘My hard work paid off, but I have to keep improving’

A Class X student of Apeejay School, Rama Mandi, Sahibjot Singh is a budding chess enthusiast who has been playing the game for just one and a half years. An all-rounder, he also enjoys badminton and writing poetry, having secured second prize in a poetry competition at DAV College. Recently, he added another feather to his cap by securing second place in the Best Unrated Category at the 1st Rajesh Pilot Open FIDE Rated Tournament, held at Gujjar Bhawan, Sector 28, Chandigarh, winning a cash prize of Rs 2,000.

In a candid interview, he shares his tournament experience, challenges, and future aspirations in chess.

How did you feel after securing second place at the tournament?

I felt extremely happy because all the hard work and effort I had put in had finally paid off. At the same time, I was already thinking about how I could improve further. I wanted to go home, practice more, and increase my online rapid chess rating.

What was your biggest challenge during the tournament?

My biggest challenge was maintaining my energy levels throughout the tournament and staying calm during the matches. I knew that getting frustrated or losing my focus could affect my gameplay, so I made a conscious effort to stay composed.

How did you prepare for the competition?

Since it was a below 2000 FIDE-rated tournament, I didn’t feel the need to prepare multiple openings for my games. Instead, I focused on refining my strongest openings and improving my existing strategies. Surprisingly, this approach gave me excellent results.

Which match was the most memorable for you, and why?

My fifth match was definitely the most memorable because I was playing against a 1727 FIDE-rated player and managed to win. What made it even more interesting was that I experimented with a rather unconventional opening, which made the victory even more satisfying.

What are your future goals in chess?

My main goal is to improve my FIDE rating and achieve an online rating of 2200. I also want to earn an Arena title. Once I have improved my FIDE rating significantly, I plan to participate in titled tournaments and continue challenging myself against stronger players.