Geetha Narayanan Gopal
Geetha Narayanan Gopal
|
| Full name |
Geetha Narayanan Gopal |
| Country |
India |
| Born |
29 March 1989 (age 26)
Muvattupuzha, India |
| Title |
Grandmaster |
| Peak rating |
2611 (July 2010) |
G.N. Gopal (born 29 March 1989) is an Indian Chess Grand Master from Cochin, Kerala. He was initiated to chess by his father at the age of 10. Gopal became Kerala's first Grand Master in 2007 at 18 and International Master on December 25, 2006 at 17. Like World Champion Viswanathan Anand's phenomena in the country, Gopal effect has popularized chess in Kerala.
According to the leading national daily, The Hindu - Gopal’s achievement is unique since he became a GM within just eight years of taking up the game.
According to the leading national daily, The Hindu - G.N. Gopal walked quietly into the history books. He became Kerala's first-ever International Master (IM) in chess.
Early life
Gopal was born in a Nair family in Muvattupuzha as the Second son of Prof B. Narayana Pillai and Prof Geetha Prakasini. He has an elder brother Gokul who is a Computer Engineer.
Gopal started chess at the age of 10. He won his first national Championship in Under 12 Rapid, Chandigarh, 2001. He became the National Junior champion at the age of 15 in 2004. He won his first international championship in his first international exposure in 2003 in Dubai Juniors, Dubai.
Personal life
Gopal is working as Executive (Sports) in Bharat Petroleum. He lives in Aluva.
Recognition
He received the prestigious Tigran Mets Medal during the Lake Sevan 2007 where he was the joint winner. "The Tigran Mets Medal" is a highly prestigious and very special honor of the Republic of Armenia.
When Gopal won his first national title in Chandigarh 2001, former Justice of Supreme court of India Hon. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer blessed him: "Gopal is a blossoming genius in chess and would emerge one day as world's no. 1."
Key achievements
- Created history at the age of 18 by becoming Kerala's first Grand Master
- Bronze Medal in the Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China (Nov 2010)
- Bronze Medal in World Team Championship at Bursa, Turkey, 2010
- Silver in Asian Team Championship in China (May 2012)
- Bronze for board performance in Asian Team Blitz Championship (May 2012)
- Silver in Asian Zonal Championship in 2007, Dhaka
- Silver medal in Asian Team Championship, Vizag, 2008 and Gold medal on board-4 for board performance
- Created history at the age of 17 by becoming Kerala's first International Master
- He was one of the four members of Indian team in the India- Israel match (April 2012)- In which India beat Israel
- Silver in Commonwealth U-20 Championship, Mumbai, 2006
- Silver in Commonwealth U-18 Championship, Mumbai, 2004
- Bronze in Asian Sub-Junior Championship, Teheran, 2004
- Gold in Dubai Open Junior, 2003
- Joint Winner with GM's Yuri Vovk and Li Chao in Lake Sevan-2007 international (Armenia)
- Joint Winner in Gloria Arroyo Cup, Manila, Philippines 2009
- Joint Winner in Dubai Open Blitz 2009, in Dubai
- Second in University Twente Young Masters, Enschede, Netherlands,2009
- Second in Gjovik International Open, Norway,2009
- Second in Banja Luka Grandmasters Tournament, Bosnia 2008
- Second in Gausdal Classics, Norway 2008.
- Second in Under-14-Saharanpur International Open, 2003
- Tied for third spot in Gibraltar Masters 2008, UK
- Tied for third spot in Bosna 2010 in May 2010,Bosnia
- Third in U-20 in Zurich Jubilee Open 2009, Switzerland
- Qualified to the FIDE World Cup from Asian Continental Championship in Philippines, 2007
- Played in two Olympiads namely 38th Chess Olympiad, Dresden, 2008 and 39th Chess Olympiad,Khanty-Mansysk,2010. He is playing in the forthcoming 40th Chess Olympiad, Istanbul, 2012
- Represented India in the World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) in Beijing, 2008 which was held for the first time.
- Gold in National Junior (U-20) 2004 in Tirupathi (2004)
- Gold in National U-12 Rapid in Chandigarh (2001)
- Silver in National Premier Championship in Delhi (Dec 2010)
- Silver in National Junior in Delhi (August 2006)
- Silver in National Sub Junior Super League ( Jan 2004)
- Bronze in National Premier Championship in Chennai (Feb 2008)
- Bronze in National Sub Junior in Calicut (2003)
- Bronze in National Sub junior Rapid in Calicut (2004)
- Winner of Wipro Young Super genius in Cochin (2003)
- Winner of Sub-Junior section of 1st TATA all India Open tournament, Jamshedpur,2004
- Winner of 1st Trichi National Open,Trichi. scored 9.5/11 (2006)
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