In this interview, Indian chess prodigy Savitha Shri reflects on her breakthrough performance at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, where she secured an individual gold medal on her board and helped India win a team bronze. She recounts the intense pressure of being the last board to play each round, the exhaustion from long 5‑6 hour games, and critical tactical moments such as the missed Rook b4 and the decisive Rook c7 in a time‑trouble endgame against a strong Chinese opponent. Savitha explains how she balanced fighting spirit with practical decision‑making, opting to press for a win rather than repeat draws. The conversation also covers team camaraderie, the role of coaches Arjun and Dipen, and the broader support network that includes teammates and family, especially during periods when she considered quitting chess. She shares her personal journey from a humble background, the emotional challenges of setbacks, and the encouragement she receives from her parents. Concluding with a motivational message, Savitha urges young girls to work hard and believe that any time can be their moment to become a hero.
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So I'm here with Savita Shree. Savita, congratulations! What a fantastic performance over there. Your first Olympiad.
Yes.
Firstly, what are you taking back with you?
Yes, it's very like I think I play a great game and won a gold medal as an individual board. Also, the team secured a bronze medal. We were aiming for the gold, but things didn't go in our way against China. Like we had have won that. match, we would have got gold, but we're a bit disappointed about that. But yeah, we still got bronze. So especially from the last game that I was playing from, like, it was, uh, such a big relief for us. At least we are getting a medal, so happy about that.
Exactly. How, how is this like fighting spirit in you where you are able to save the positions, you're able to fight there and be alert to Be sharp, you know, when you get that opportunity to strike back. So, can you just tell us more about this fighting spirit of yours?
Yes, after like almost around round 8 to 11, I was so exhausted after my game against Kazakh. Like almost all the games I've been playing for 5 to 6 hours. Yeah, like literally I'm the last person in my team to play every round. So, I was so exhausted and also my play dropped a bit because, you know, like against China, I just blundered this knight d4. And, uh, but yeah, I don't have a choice. I have to play for my team. And also, like, at that point, uh, I like— Madhika had an equal position, so I thought, okay, I just thought I shouldn't lose the match. And yeah, I was just playing according to the position. And then, yes, uh, in the time trouble, you know, anything can happen. And, uh, things got very complicated, and then it became equal. And then, uh, I missed a lot of tactics. Like, I saw this.
Yeah, yeah, Rook b4. Were you looking at the move?
And why did you reject Like I saw Rook b4 as well as Rook f4 stuff, like the knight was on f4, but I thought like I can take that at any time. So I thought okay, I'll just play this King h1. I thought she does not have any plan, and then but suddenly this Rook like Rook f8 and Rook d8 was coming, and then like there I have to do something or else like I was in minus position. And yeah.
And was it hard to assess like after Rook b4 even if you like just take the d3 pawn, like you have a lot of compensation over there. Was it difficult to assess?
Not just a compensation, I'm also getting this Knight c6, Knight a7 quickly. So I think like I, I saw that, but I just thought, okay, I still have time to take all that and play. But, uh, yeah, I think Rook b4 would have been a clean win.
But amazing that you, you know, kept on fighting over there because you almost— it was like getting to repetition number of times, and that was a very crucial decision for you. Were you in a dilemma like when you were playing? Like, were you thinking of should I repeat, or how did you decide on, you know, continuing?
I was never thinking about repetition. I just wanted to check my opponent whether she was playing for a draw or not. Also, like, you know, to increase the time as well. Uh, I don't think I would have repeated at that point because one tick, it was an equal position, but her opponent was pushing. Like, uh, yeah, sometimes she offered a draw, and, uh, like, that's when I was playing this King g2, King h1. And when Vantika's opponent saw that I rejected draw and played, and she also played, and she went on to win that game. So like, it was so crazy that, uh, yeah, if Vantika had drawn that game, then we would have clearly gotten gold.
Yeah, and today, uh, today also you, you know, fought back. It was just unbelievable. Um, and how was the feeling for today's round, like while it was happening and you were the last person, you know, you were playing, so many things were dependent. It was Like a lot of pressure on you. Like were you feeling the pressure during your playing?
It all started from Kazakh game itself, where like I was in a must-win situation from that draw game. So like I think like I got used to it. Like every time I was the last player in my team to play. So I think I got used to it. And with in the in the last game too, like like also one ticket just made a draw. So it was a huge pressure, but also So like you know we were just playing for bronze. Like I thought we were playing for bronze, and then Kazakh they made a draw. So like if I had won, like it's a silver medal. And from the position I had, I was just defending. And then like and after the forty minutes we got thirty minutes in. After that we got into time trouble at there. Like she kind of messed up her advantage, and then we got into this endgame like where I was a pawn up. So like at the end I was the one who was pushing, but I was so mad at myself for missing this rook c7 and then giving up this pawn and then making a draw. I was like so mad at myself that, okay, like, like in a human perspective, from the position that I got and I got into this one, I thought, okay, I should push. Yeah. And I was also getting a bit lucky each and every time in the last few rounds. So I thought, yeah, I think I just should have pushed that one. So I was kind of mad at me for some time.
And then you were mad at yourself during the game and then you recovered all also, uh, with that?
No, like, at that point after Rook c7, I think it's just equal. So, like, no matter how mad I am, like, I would have made a draw. Yeah, but yeah, like, I almost got tears into my eyes. So, wow, that's so— I don't know, like, it was so emotional.
Amazing. And, uh, could you, uh, you know, like, for another thing is 7 out of 7, you know, that was a score. And we all remember Gukesh in his first Olympiad. And you both, you know, Gukesh and you in Under-11 Nationals where we had also come, you both were the national champions. So just could you share a little bit more about it? Like, do you find similarity in any style?
No, no, definitely he's an award champion. Yeah, like there is no comparison between me and him. Uh, he's a fantastic player. Uh, but yeah, like, uh, 7 out of 7 is a bit in a good score, uh, but yeah, I'm happy about it. Also, like, I have to thank my team, okay? Uh, like, coming to this tournament, I'm coming as a reserve player and they made me play 10 rounds. So—
That's because you were playing so well.
Yeah, but also it shows the confidence that they have in me. And you know, like, when the team have so much of confidence in me, like, I should also put some effort. Yeah, so yeah, I'm grateful for the team.
And how was it like, uh, like Uh, yeah, the team, like, would you, uh, you know, discuss things together, or would you have food together? How was the camaraderie?
We'll, uh, we'll do everything together, actually. Like, we'll have a meeting where we'll decide, like, uh, who to play and who to take rest. Uh, also, like, uh, you know, like, no matter what, the support was always there. For example, Vaishaliya K took rest for, uh, the last few rounds, and but She was helping us with the prep and everything. Like she was always there. So I think that to have that kind of support and it's just wow very cool.
And could you share about your coaches, trainers, seconds whoever you can you know?
In this tournament I think it has to be Arjun and Dipen. Swainthu was also there but mostly it was Arjun Anna who helped me a lot because he is an E4 player himself. So yeah like. I, I tortured him a lot, what to say. Like, uh, even 5 minutes, 10 minutes before the game, like when we were walking, like I used to ask him to tell the move orders. It's like, yeah. And then, uh, also like the files and, uh, we have worked a lot, but not like— but the openings like which we prepared didn't come unfortunately in some rounds, but we worked really hard. Yeah.
And, uh, like, would you like to share about the coaches otherwise? Like Apart from this tournament?
Hmm, I am working with someone like whom I don't want to reveal.
Sure, sure. And can you share a bit about, you know, how you come from a humble background and, you know, you have seen the struggle there is? So could you share a little bit about that journey as well?
Yes, like, uh, like if you say like the last 2 months and 3 months have been going in my way Uh, like I won Asian Continental and, uh, I played BL where I also played well. And then this Olympia, like, uh, like these 3 months have been really good. But if you see the last 2 years, I have struggled a lot. Like there were times that I thought, okay, I should quit chess and do something else.
Hmm.
So it was really that hard. And, uh, I think it's just my family who kept pushing me and, uh, the support they All that the support that they give, I think that's the only reason why I'm here. Wow!
What can you tell us? What how did they support you? Like how could you know such a big decision when the thought of quitting comes and then something like the family is telling you to continue. So what was it exactly?
No, it's just that I'm a kind of emotional person. Like if I lose something, then you know like I can really go down. And my parents like. like, any one of them will always travel with me to the, like, open tournaments especially. So, like, you know, when you have, like, one of your parents with you and, uh, like, it's just that, you know, someone is always there for you to cheer up and, uh, they just take care of everything else, you know, like, uh, the, like, the criticisms that I have received for, like, you know, decreasing a lot of rating. So, like, they They just make sure that I don't get into all of like those negativity things.
Wow, that's so amazing, Savita. And I think, yeah, for the first Olympiad, it's such an incredible performance. You have, you know, become the hero over here. So thanks a lot for sharing a lot of things. Is there anything else you want to, you know, share and maybe also tell the young girls out there? Any, any kind of message from you?
I think anything is possible at any time. Yeah, so it's just that you have to keep working hard, and then once your time comes, then yeah, you can become a hero.
Thank you, Savita, and congratulations once again.
