Belagavi-origin girl Shrisha Tarihalkar shares British U10 chess title after comeback
Shrisha Suhas Tarihalkar, whose family roots are in Belagavi, Karnataka, has won the British U10 Girls’ Chess Championship. She shares the title with Mary Cawdery after a remarkable performance in the tournament.
Ms. Tarihalkar, who lives in the United Kingdom with her family, endured a difficult start, scoring just one point from her first three rounds. However, she displayed remarkable composure and determination in the following games, winning three and drawing one of her next four encounters. Her final score of 4.5 out of 7 was enough to secure a share of the championship.
Her father, Suhas Tarihalkar, originally from Belagavi, studied there before settling in the UK. His daughter's achievement has brought pride to the family and to the community she traces her origins to.
The victory also adds to the growing list of successes for the Commonwealth Chess Association (CCA), as Ms. Tarihalkar becomes the latest member to win a British chess title. She follows in the footsteps of Elis, another CCA-affiliated player who achieved a similar honour previously.
Chess officials and family members have praised Ms. Tarihalkar's resilience and focus, noting that her comeback from a difficult start reflects the mental strength required at competitive levels of the game. Her shared title is seen as a significant milestone for a player of her age.
