Double Delight

On the chessboard too, twins Swathi and Swetha are identical in churning out novelty in every step to force their opponents into perplexed positions.

Through their astounding performance in the sub district-level Inter-school Chess Tournament held at St Antony’s High School in Vadakara a few days back, identical twins Swathi Sathyanath and Swetha Sathyanath secured their third successive sub-district championship title.

Hailing from Madappally, Swathi and Swetha, class IX students at the St Antony’s High School, Vadakara, buddied up with chess tactics from their infancy itself.

“Playing chess is like leading a battle, any deviation from the chess piece may expel you from your territory,” Swathi said.

According to the chess prodigy, concentration matters a lot in chess.

“By foreseeing the opponents’ movements, we could avoid approaching doom,” said prognostic player Swetha.

“A player is bound to keep himself off from mistakes,” she said.

On their success in chess, the budding chess players said, “We used to discuss our shortcomings after every competition.

The open analysis act as a boost to perform better in the coming contests.

” “Since I am a Physical Education teacher, I wished to engage my children in sports,” said their father and trainer Sathyanath.

“To my excitement, with exceptional memory power and ability to grasp things faster, both of them found their space in the chess world in a short span of time.

In the past two years, they have participated in state-level chess tournaments.

Their movements are vital enough for a rapid checkmate,” said their trainer.

For the past 25 years, Sathyanath has been serving as the physical education trainer at BEM High School, Vadakara.

While Swathi feels comfortable with Knight, the only chess piece capable of leaping over other piece, Queen instills confidence in Swetha with flexibility in movements.

Asked what is their strong point, with a wide grin on their face they said, “We play for the situation.

Movements of every chess piece teach lessons of baring the obstructions from the way to success.

” “When they were class V students, they were contented with participation in the tournaments.

Practicing with their brother Sachin Sathyanath, a class XI student at Government High School, Thalassery, helped them for the better assimilation of the acquired knowledge,” their father said.

Aspiring to be renowned chess players in the future, they admire Viswanathan w as their role model.

(This article was published in The New Indian Express newspaper in 2012)