For 27-year-old K.V.K. Karthik, a city chess player down with a peculiar orthopaedic complication, the sojourn to Scotland ended in a memorable fashion, as he went on to win the gold medal in the physically challenged segment of the Commonwealth chess championship that concluded in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Karthik hauled five points out of nine rounds and finished top of the heap. In the open category, he finished at 40 among 152 players participated from the world over.

The 11-day tournament, jointly organised by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and Commonwealth Chess Association, witnessed top Grand Masters and International Masters taking part from 24 countries. “More than 11 GMs and 11 IMs vied for honours,” said Sk. Khasim, Karthik’s coach who accompanied his ward.

Khasim said his ward played against Australians, Scots and fellow-Indians in the allotted nine rounds. “He defeated Dishan Baura of India in the first round and later tamed Scots like Andrew Burnett, Robert O’Brien and Ian Robertson. He drew with Clement Streeves and Andrew Green to finish with five points. Karthik is a victim of failed nervous system that resulted in blurred vision (right eye) and his head hardly stays on the shoulders – wobbling continuously – owing to detachment of an optical nerve.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by  J. R. Sridharan / Vijayawada – July 10th, 2014