Varugeese Koshy, chess International Master and renowned trainer, dies

Renowned chess master Varugeese Koshy, mentor to many, passes away at 66, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

International Master, renowned trainer and a mentor to many aspirants, Varugeese Koshy, has died. He was 66.

Koshy leaves behind two sons and his wife.

Koshy had known about his terminal lung cancer for about ten months and he dealt with the dreaded disease with his impeccable sense of humour. “Apna time aa gaya (My time has come)," he had said in October last year.

Starting out as a rebel, Koshy was one of the few self-taught gentlemen of the chess world. His hyper-modern approach to the 64-squares gave him a distinct advantage over most of his peers.

In the era when computers played very little role, Koshy rose from the ashes with his superior skills to analyze various positions and went on to become India number two in the National Championship of the early nineties.

Koshy represented the country on various occasions but his biggest contribution to the game came as a trainer.

It was in the mid 90s that he was approached by P. Harikrishna’s grandfather to train the young mind. Koshy and Harikrishna worked together for many years and Koshy also accompanied him to Netherlands for his first major event in Wijk Ann Zee a few years later. Harikrishna went on to become one of the best players that the country ever had.