I was scared to dream something like this: Harika Dronavalli

In 2004, when Harika Dronavalli made her maiden appearance at a Chess Olympiad as a 13-year old, Divya Deskmukh, her current teammate at Budapest for the 45th edition, wasn’t even born.

And since that first outing in Spain, Harika has represented the country in every Chess Olympiad over the past two decades. That is a truly remarkable feat on its own.

Such has been her longevity in the top-tier of the sport that she has witnessed players come and go.

Despite winning three bronze medals at the Women’s World Chess Championship and receiving the coveted Padma Shri in 2019, a gold medal at the Chess Olympiad had eluded her.

At the 2022 edition at Chennai, Harika came close, playing whilst being 9-months pregnant. But victory slipped through her fingers yet again.

So, how then, did she approach this Olympiad?

In an interview with The Bridge, Harika Dronavalli opened up about the phenomenal gold medal winning campaign at the 45th Chess Olympiad at Budapest:

You have been going to every Olympiad for the past 20 years. Going to Budapest this time, did it feel any different?

Harika Dronavalli: Lat time we were close to gold and we missed it in the last minute. To be very frank, I went in with no expectations because we were so heartbroken in the last Olympiad in 2022. I was sacred to dream something like this. So, I just went into the tournament to try out my best. When things started going well and when people started winning, that’s when I felt may be we should dream again, maybe we can do it this time. That’s when it slowly started coming in the head. I think once we beat Georgia, it started becoming bigger and once we had a setback to Poland we said not again: ‘iss baar karke hi jayenge’ (We will do it this time).

What was the approach of the other members of the women’s team?

Harika Dronavalli: With the kids, they don’t have so much baggage, they are more motivated, they said ‘We’re the top-seed, we need to win.’ Because for me, I’ve seen Olympiads (before) and things went wrong and I kept seeing and seeing. For me again to start believing that we will win this time after all these years, I was scared to expect too much with a fear that things go bad later on.

So, what was the collective team talk going into the Olympiad?

Harika Dronavalli: Of course, to win gold, there was no doubt about it. We missed out last time and now we were the top seed and everyone wanted to win gold. Even if you want it sometimes, at the back of mind you’ll be a little hesitant to believe it, so that hesitation was there for me until we won some crucial matches. That was just me but everyone else just wanted to win gold and get out of there.

Did the youngsters in the team have a chat with you before the tournament to pick your brains from your past experiences?

Harika Dronavalli: We already knew each other enough and we’ve played team tournaments together before, so we already know each other well. They all are professionals and all have been in this for a couple of years already. Because I’ve played more, I might sound more senior, but the kids are also experienced and they definitely held their ground in crucial moments. I was always there of course, but I didn’t not do anything special to inspire them, I can’t take that credit.

The match against Georgia. How did that outcome collectively change the confidence of the team.

Harika Dronavalli: Until the rest day, we won all the matches but they were lower rated teams. Then after the rest day, we were getting Georgia who were the second seeds. So already, its like one of the most crucial matches and you know it can change the dynamics of the whole tournament and they were also very close to us so if something went wrong there, they could have taken over, so it was that crucial a moment. They might be second seeds on paper but they’re the most experienced team, they’re won several European and team championships, so they’re much more experienced, So, when we won that match against such a strong team, that win gave all of us the confidence that we could be there.

After that outcome, did the team get together and say ‘this is our chance’?

Harika Dronavalli: Chess players like to keep the routine and not change (it). After we won, we were quickly back to the rooms and were doing the same things like every other day and stayed focused on our goals. So, there was nothing special that we did. But once we lost to Poland, that’s when we did something different, we said something got spoilt but not too much because we were still leaders on tie breaks, so now was the time to pick up and play like a team. It was special and we all came together as a team.

You mention the importance of routine. Can you share with us the routine that you followed during the Olympiad.

Harika Dronavalli: I’m a different person when I play chess. During tournaments, I don’t speak too much with many people, I try to keep to myself, I just play chess and come back to my room. Outside chess, I’m a completely different person. The routine is different for each and every individual. For me, it’s just that I try not to socialize too much and I don’t want to lose that seriousness and momentum. I stay away from social media and keep to myself and focus on my chess.

For those wondering how this big an achievement happened, can you break this down for us? Were plans drawn for every individual player and was there a separate team plan?

Harika Dronavalli: When you play as a team you have to take collective decisions like you’ve five players but everyday only four players can play, so who to field, whom to rest and everything is a team discussion. And Abhijit Kunte sir who is the captain, he would take a decision and there are two more coaches, so we were taking collective decisions. Also, as we approached towards the Olympiad, there was also a camp held before the tournament, which I couldn’t attend but we did certain things to understand a bit like how we can help each other. The main part of team sport is that when you play on four boards, you have to at least make 2.5 and that’s when we get two match points and that is what we were trying. When someone else was losing on two boards, it doesn’t make sense when you don’t try on your boards. So, when something is going wrong from someone the other one will step in and say I’ll manage, so that’s how the team spirit works in team games.

Everyone appeared to be a terrific form. How much of a role do you think form plays in Chess?

Harika Dronavalli: Definitely. Already if you have two-three players who are in really peak form, its already enough to be there in the top. So, definitely form is most important.

And what is good chess form?

Harika Dronavalli: To not make too many mistakes, to be accurate in your calculations, to be able to finish the game accurately.

Having won the Chess Olympiad now, what are your near-term goals?

Harika Dronavalli: This cycle is such that it will never stop. Once you start in this field, you never stop and the ambition keeps changing but the life remains the same, you’ll try to get better and bigger. Its one achievement after another, it never stops. I would want to do more and more until I can. I would like to win the World Championship, I’ve already won 3 bronze medals, so it goes on. When I won my first world youth, I thought that was the biggest thing and that my life was set. But then I felt like I have to win the bigger ones, so this is how it goes in sport.

Who is your biggest support at home?

Harika Dronavalli: My whole family, they’re so supportive. My daughter is with my mother and grandmother (age 77) who are taking care of her. Since the very beginning, they’re used to it. I play chess and they’re happy about my success and they’ll do everything to do that. Also, my husband and my in-laws, I didn’t feel anything changed after my marriage because they also supported me like my parents. My husband is super motivating, when I forget something he reminds me saying ‘what are you doing are you not playing chess or what.’