Hi!

I am Soumya, a professional chess player from India and member of the Indian Chess Team. I started playing chess at the age of eight and my breakthrough performance was winning the World Junior Championship in 2009. It helped me seriously consider being a full-time professional, although in fact I made my final decision only in March 2014, while I was at Solitude! It is one of the reasons why I have such wonderful memories of Solitude. My time there gave me the courage to believe in my dreams and I shall forever be grateful.

Presently I am employed with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, which supports my chess career. My world ranking at the moment is 94, and my aim is to break into top 20 in the world. I enjoy traveling and reading sport biographies; I believe in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Academically I am a commerce and law graduate.

At times I write on chess and travel at soumeow-traveller.blogspot.in.

Best,

Soumya Swaminathan

Chess Woman Grandmaster

India.

Akademie Schloss Solitude Profile