Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman is an Indian chess player of international repute. She is presently ranked 20th amongst women chess players in the world. But from India, she is the first Woman Grand Master (WGM). Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman has been a 5 time national champion throughout her career span. She has won more medals for India in the Chess Olympiads, than any other player. Subbaraman has even won almost all national age group titles, which include the senior title, for record time. The present FIDE rating of Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman is 2464.
Early life of Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman
Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman was born on 27th March in the year 1979. When she was only three and a half years old, her father A S Subbaraman drew Vijayalakshmi to the game of Chess. He is still her coach and a significant mentor figure. Meenakshi and Bhanupriya, sisters of Vijayalakshmi are also Chess players. At the tender age of fifteen, Vijayalakshmi won the first of her four National Women`s championships.
Career of Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman
Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman is one of the best female Chess players from India. In the year 1996, the International Woman Master title came into her. On the national circuit, she has won nearly all Women`s titles and has also recorded several wins against Grandmasters. She had her most remarkable victory at the Anibal Open, Linares in the years 1998, over Russian Grandmaster Mikhail Kobalia. She has represented her country in over 30 international tournaments.
Her career spans from 1999 to 2007. Her most notable games are: S Vijayalakshmi Vs Sasikiran held in the year 2000 and she won by 1-0; T Taylor Vs S Vijayalakshmi in the year 2006 and she won by 0-1. Other games played by Vijayalakshmi are- S Vijayalakshmi vs K Asrian; S Vijayalakshmi vs G Bagaturov; S Vijayalakshmi vs Z Rahman; N Babu vs S Vijayalakshmi; S Vijayalakshmi vs N Koskela; E Vladimirov vs S Vijayalakshmi; R Aarthie vs S Vijayalakshmi; Ar Tiwari vs S Vijayalakshmi; A B Vaidya vs S Vijayalakshmi; N Koskela vs S Vijayalakshmi etc.
Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman is renowned for the high level of her game. She has also helped inflame interest in Women`s chess in India. The world champion Gary Kasparov is her favourite Chess player.