Ivana conquers the world - again!!!

Goa's Ivana Furtado guaranteed herself a place
in chess history by drawing the last round of the World
Youth Chess Championships being played
at Antalya, Turkey and thus retaining the world title
that she won in Batumi, Georgia last year. Considering the
fact that the Russians and Chinese were in Turkey in
full force, Ivana's second World championship can be rated as
even more commendable than the first one.

Dronacharya awardee Raghunandan Gokhale advised
Ivana to use the Pirc Defence for the second consecutive time
in two days and she won a pawn in the opening itself. Thereafter,
she gradually outplayed her opponent - Zhansaya Abdumalik
of Kazhakastan - to come up with a winning position. However,
when her opponent offered her a draw which was sufficient for
her title, Ivana agreed and thus won her 7th International Gold
medal in two and a half years!

This eight year old girl from Our Lady of Rosary High School, Dona Paula
has won two World Championships, one Asian Title, two World Schools
Gold medals and two Asian Schools Gold Medals. Her coach Raghunandan
Gokhale, India's first Dronachraya awardee was full of praise for Ivana and
said that we can expect even greater things from her in the future.

A special show was organised at the Sharada Mandir High School,
Miramar wherein the last round game was webcast live to the students
and teachers of the school. Goa State Chess Association officials
including the President Sameer A. Salgaocar and Secretary Suhas Asnodkar
were present to explain the intricacies and subtleties of the game.

Ivana's efforts were praised by the AICF Honorary Secretary D.V. Sundar
who said that she had showed her 'fighting qualities' to come back strongly
after losing to compatriot C.H. Meghna during the tournament. Chief
Minister of Goa Digamber Kamat also applauded Ivana for her stupendous
accomplishment of winning the World Championship for the second
consecutive time.