B. N. Srikanth a.k.a. Coffee has always been a superlative chess player. He and Junga used to be beyond anyone’s league, and we respected that.
During the 1998 inter-hostel sports meet (our intramurals), the first- or second-round draw pitted an M.Tech student — I forget his name, and perhaps that’s just as well — against the formidable Coffee.
The M.Tech students’ hostel used to be at the other end of the city – a 45-minute bus ride from the chess venue which, luckily for Coffee, was his own hostel.
On the day of his game, the M.Techie rode a bus to the game venue (Coffee’s hostel). He was prompt, and he was prepared. Coffee, however, was anything but. He was busy sleeping off the effects of a late-night game of Transport Tycoon in his room. Someone frantically woke him, announcing that his opponent was already champing at the bit. It was a matter of the hostel’s pride! Would Coffee let us down by being a no-show?
A bleary-eyed Coffee stumbled into the common room. Silence descended over the hostel as the game began. After all, the Sachin of chess was playing.
After scarcely 2 minutes — roughly around the third move — Coffee did something unexpected: he looked at the M.Techie. “I wouldn’t make that move if I were you. Tum chaho toh wapas le sakte ho.”
The Matka was stunned. Was Coffee playing mind games with him? After all, Coffee was his opponent, not a coach. Then why the friendly advice?
He tried to figure this out, second-guessing Coffee for a bit. Then he declined Coffee’s offer.
Coffee had to do what he had to do. Within 1 or 2 more moves, he delivered the Matka a checkmate and returned to his room, eager to resume his interrupted sleep.
The Matka got on another bus and took a 45-minute ride back.
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