Lucknow has always had a legacy of strong chess players. The older generation of Saeed Ahmad, Arif Ali, Junaid Ahmad, Pawan Batham and Devendra Bajpai have now passed on the baton to the next generation for rating tournaments.
Leading Lucknow's young chess brigade is Harshit Amarnani of the Chess Club Black & White. Harshit has been the lone chess star on the international scene from the city and recently won the u2200 Section at the Isola del Sole, Grado, Italy International Open. This catapulted his Fide published rating to 2143 - the highest for the city.
Here's an inspiring an insightful interview with the 21-year-old chess star of Lucknow.
1. You've been playing professional chess for over a decade now. How has the sport changed over the years?
With the advancement in chess engines and software, as well as the rise of new variants, chess keeps evolving in its own way every few months — and those small shifts build into noticeable change over the years. Take Freestyle Chess or Chess960, for example: they've been quietly growing in popularity and then suddenly, there's a boom. In general, with powerful engines available to everyone, opening preparation has become way tougher. Players keep finding solutions to every idea, often playing in unorthodox ways that defy older principles.
2. How do you deal with losing? How do you derive motivation for studying and playing so hard?
Losing is tough — especially when you’ve played a solid game with no obvious mistakes but your opponent just plays better. When both sides are accurate, but theirs is slightly more precise, that stings. It’s not easy to accept being outplayed, but it’s part of the game. At the end of the day, I have to be my biggest supporter and keep believing that I can outwork and outplay them in the future. Motivation helps, but I don’t rely on it to train. It's not always there, and honestly, I don't think it needs to be. What needs to be done, needs to be done — that’s how I approach it.
3. What has been your chess preparation schedule over the years?
I think opening depth and understanding have started playing a bigger role in the past 2–3 years compared to earlier. That said, middlegame strategy and endgame knowledge are just as important, if not more. My schedule’s always varied — I focus on all aspects of the game, but from time to time I spotlight one area more than the others.
4. Do you think physical fitness has a role to play in chess, and how do you deal with in-game pressure?
Definitely. Physical fitness helps build the stamina needed for classical chess, where a game can stretch beyond 5 hours. Since chess is mentally exhausting, physical activity refreshes the mind and creates some balance. As for pressure, I think every chess player faces it to some degree — and it's not easy to manage. It affects how we think and the quality of our decisions. I’m no exception. I just try to stay focused on the board, find the best squares for my pieces, and do everything I can to make the most of the position.
5. What kind of chess preparation is required for rating tournaments?
If you’re starting out, a basic understanding of openings and key endgames is important. Tactics also play a huge role — having an eye for tactical patterns is a strong asset that can help push your rating forward. Of course, as you move up and the competition gets stronger, the preparation becomes more nuanced. Openings need to be prepared in greater depth with the repertoire widened to be able to play every type of position. Middlegames start to get a bit more complicated with emphasis moving from just material considerations to positional ones(spatial, temporal, psychological etc). It’s a boundless sea of learning, and we’re just glad to be swimming in it.
6. Any advice for kids starting out to play rating tournaments?
Just focus on playing your best and enjoying the game, no matter the result — the rest will follow. I think it is really important to enjoy that feeling of sitting at the chess board in a competitive environment before the game. As for preparation, the basics I mentioned earlier are probably a good starting point.
7. How did you take the decision to step from amateur school tournaments into the world of rating ones, and what was the role of your family?
It started quite gradually since there were rating tournaments in my city, so the shift didn’t feel too different at first. As I improved and began traveling for events, I had to weigh my options a bit more — but I always knew this was something I wanted to pursue. Sure, there were doubts, like with anything, but talking it through with my coaches and parents helped clarify the path.
8. With all the travelling and training required, how do you manage your finances?
So far, the costs of tournaments and training have been covered by my family — especially my parents — and I’m extremely grateful for their support.
9. Future plans?
My tournament schedule isn’t fixed yet, but I do plan on playing more this year than I have in the last few. The ultimate goal is to keep learning and improving to become the best I can be — with each title just being a step along that journey.
10. Other hobbies apart from chess? Favourite movies? Books?
I’m a big fan of sport — I try to play table tennis and lawn tennis frequently. Cricket is something I follow more than I play. I also have an interest in financial markets, so I read up on that whenever I get the chance. I don’t watch a lot of shows or movies, but The Big Bang Theory is one I really enjoy.
11. Do you feel you made certain sacrifices as a child or your childhood was different from your classmates because of your focus on chess?
My childhood was definitely a bit different — I had to balance chess alongside school, so I probably didn’t have as much free time as others. It wasn’t always pleasant to miss events or outings because of training or travel. But it never felt like a sacrifice. I was doing something I genuinely wanted to do, so I didn’t feel like I was giving anything up.
— Chess Club Black & White wishes Harshit, his family and his coaches all the best for the chess adventures ahead. Mentored by: Dr Junaid Ahmad, Arif Ali (Lucknow), WIM Mrunalini Kunte (Pune) and Dimitris Farmakis (Athens).
