Fund crunch and lack of support from the state government threatens to cut short the career of yet another budding international talent. Orissa’s youngest international chess master Debashis Das’s (in photo) hopes of reaching the top remain unfulfilled as he cannot afford the international coach and training that would add that last touch to his already fantastic talent.
His mother has pleaded with the district administration to promote her son’s sportsmanship to achieve glory for the state as well as nation.
Das, an outstanding world ranking chess player of Champeswar village under Naugaon block of Jagatsinghpur district has glorified the name of this district in national and international level in the field chess tournaments.
Studying in class X at B.N.High School, Kantapada of Cuttack district where his father Dillip Das is working as assistant surgeon in veterinary department, Das struggled to make to international tournaments in Turkey and elsewhere to beat some of the best in the game.
He has secured four IM norms, two golds, one silver and three bronze medals. His list of achievements include ~ IM norm at the 6th Parasvnath international chess in New Delhi, bronze medal at the Asian Youth Chess Under 18, bronze medals and 2nd IM norm and Gold medal from World Youth Chess U-16 in Vietnam, 3rd IM norm from 11th Dubai Open, 4th IM norm from 14th Balaguer Open in Spain, bronze medal from Asian Youth U 18, New Delhi and Gold & Silver from World Youth Chess Olympiad in Turkey. Debashis has been selcted as youngest international master by obtaining four IM Norms and 2400 towards rating. The Hasting International Chess Fest in England, Prague Open 2010, ISCU Grand Prix 2010 in Moscow, Dubai Open and other tournaments are events in which Das wants to participate but for this he would need the necessary financial support.