Good run: Narayanan is brimming with confidence after successful each the basic and blitz format in the El Llobregat Open in Barcelona.
| Photo Credit: File Photo: VELANKANNI RAJ
Grandmaster S.L. Narayanan, after struggling to discover a breakthrough efficiency for a main a part of 2023, is now having fun with the finest part of his profession at the end of the year.
Narayanan is brimming with confidence after successful each the basic and blitz format in the El Llobregat Open in Barcelona final week. The victory in Barcelona got here after he completed third in the Qatar Open.
Narayanan is now eyeing a good present at the World Rapid and Blitz match that begins in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in the final week of December.
He remained unbeaten in the El Llobregat Open and completed with 7.5 factors to clinch the title in the basic format. He sealed the crown with a draw towards prime seed Vladimir Fedoseev. In the blitz match, Narayanan got here first with eight factors and his two attracts had been towards Fedoseev and Vugar Asadli.
“I had won the tournament in 2019, but at that time the field wasn’t as strong as it was in 2023. I was seeded third here and there were at least 10 or 12 players with 2600 rating points. So everyone had a chance.
“I was playing the stronger players in the initial rounds and I aimed to do well in the initial rounds. I was able to secure four wins in the first five rounds. The win against V.R. Aravindh Chithambaram in the sixth round got me the lead and I maintained it till the end. I rate this win in Barcelona as the best of my career,” mentioned Narayanan who’s inching nearer to the coveted 2700 level mark in rankings.
Narayanan, who nonetheless wants six factors to break the 2700-point barrier, mentioned his focus was extra on bettering his recreation and doing nicely in tournaments.
But he has been picky in collaborating in tournaments overseas due to monetary constraints. “A large part of my earnings is used to pay fees to my coach. This is a very competitive field and you need to have a very good coach to guide you and it comes with a price,” added Narayanan.
However, Narayanan hasn’t allowed the deprivations to have an effect on him mentally and is soldiering on with none complaints.
