Winchester chess master takes multi-tasking to a new level
By Michael Phillis
Winchester Star
Posted Feb 27, 2011 @ 09:00 AM
Winchester, MA — Last year, Winchester resident Vivek Rao took on 28 chess players simultaneously and won every single game. Last Friday, Rao proofed that performance was no fluke. This time, Rao played 30 members of the Winchester Chess club and once again won every single game.
In spite of this impressive performance, Rao, who is in his late 30s, said he is actually quite rusty in the world of competitive chess – when he was younger he played competitively but has not put in the research and time needed to once again compete in the upper echelons of competitive chess.
“I haven’t played any tournaments lately,” said Rao. “I have two boys who play here. This is my way of giving back.” The simulation took place at a meeting of the Winchester Chess Club.
Rao has two sons who are five and seven years old.
“They have both been playing since they were four years old,” said Rao.
“I’m hoping they will play competitively. They have gotten better … I think it helps them concentrate. One thing I’ve noticed watching many kids, including my own children, it’s a matter of paying attention.”
Rao is an international master chess player. He played competitively in his younger years often studying two hours a day during the school year and sometimes eight hours a day during summer vacation in preparation for tournaments.
“When I was seriously competing, I would study openings,” said Rao. “Because games are timed, in serious tournaments, there [are about] 40 moves in two hours.”
Read more here.
Did he quit chess?