"Fitness is crucial for concentration in chess. A routine of football, running, and bodyweight exercises helps me stay sharp during matches" 

1. What was a defining moment in your chess career?

There were many impactful moments in my career, but if I had to pick one, it would be winning the U-7 World School Chess Championship in Greece in 2007. Scoring 9/9 gave me, my parents, and my coaches great confidence that I could pursue chess further.

2. How do you maintain concentration and strategy during tough matches?

Fitness plays a crucial role in maintaining concentration during chess matches. To avoid missing crucial details in the final moments of a game, I follow a regime that includes football, running, and bodyweight exercises like push-ups and planks. Additionally, maintaining a fixed routine during events helps conserve energy.

3. How do you balance established openings with creativity?

Having a strong conceptual understanding of positions allows me to focus on plans and move execution rather than just relying on computer evaluations. This balance between established openings and creativity is a challenge for many professional players, including myself, and I'm continually working on it.

4. Any tips for mastering endgames and securing wins?

Knowing all the basic endgame positions is crucial. Developing endgame skills requires studying and playing many positions and their subtypes over a long period. This consistent practice helps play endgames more effectively.

5. How do you keep your love for chess alive and continue to innovate?

Everyone experiences setbacks and moments of dejection. Keeping the love for chess alive is often an innate trait; if you had enough passion from the start, the game remains a key part of your life without needing to force it.

6. Which fictional character would you choose to play chess against and why?

I would choose someone super smart like Sherlock Holmes.

Bio:

Abhimanyu Puranik, born on February 11, 2000, in Pune, India, is a distinguished Grandmaster in chess, a title awarded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). He completed his B. Com with a 7.40 CGPA and his M. Com with an 8.37 CGPA from SCAC. He achieved high academic performance, securing 93% in his State Secondary Board Examination and 77% in his Higher Secondary Board Examinations.

Puranik has traveled to over 35 countries to compete in chess and boasts numerous achievements. He has won prestigious tournaments such as the Cappelle la Grande Open and the Keres Memorial Rapid & Blitz in 2024. His accolades include the “Shivchhatrapati Krida Puraskar” by the Maharashtra State Government, and his current ELO rating is 2625.

In addition to his international success, Puranik has consistently excelled in national championships, representing the Airports Authority of India. He speaks English, Hindi, and Marathi, and enjoys reading, cricket, football, and table tennis.

Interviewed by: Shantanu Singh 

Edited by: Mishika Goel