Book info:
Title: The Last Gambit
Author: Om Swami
Genre: YA coming of age
Release Date: February 2017
Publisher: Harper Element (Harper Collins)
Synopsis:
Success by design
is infinitely better than a win by chance. Vasu Bhatt is fourteen years old when a mysterious old man spots
him at a chess tournament and offers to coach him, on two simple but strange
conditions: he would not accompany his student to tournaments, and there was to
be no digging into his past. Initially resentful, Vasu begins to gradually
understand his master’s mettle.
is infinitely better than a win by chance. Vasu Bhatt is fourteen years old when a mysterious old man spots
him at a chess tournament and offers to coach him, on two simple but strange
conditions: he would not accompany his student to tournaments, and there was to
be no digging into his past. Initially resentful, Vasu begins to gradually
understand his master’s mettle.
Over eight years, master and student come to
love and respect each other, but the two conditions remain unbroken – until
Vasu confronts and provokes the old man. Meanwhile, their hard work and
strategy pay off: Vasu qualifies for the world chess championship. But can he
make it all the way without his master by his side?
Inspiring, moving and mercurial, The Last Gambit
is a beautiful coming of age tale in a uniquely Indian context.
Buy on Amazon!
Excerpt:
Saving a few times, like when he was sleeping, living with
Andrei was a continuous challenge. He was just not designed with any sense of
living in a world sans chess. He couldn’t even pour tea without spilling it in
the saucer. He would never remember to turn the gas off after cooking. And the
only thing he knew how to cook was an omelette. It was scary to be in the same
car with him because he would just stop anywhere and start making notes on some
game.
Andrei was a continuous challenge. He was just not designed with any sense of
living in a world sans chess. He couldn’t even pour tea without spilling it in
the saucer. He would never remember to turn the gas off after cooking. And the
only thing he knew how to cook was an omelette. It was scary to be in the same
car with him because he would just stop anywhere and start making notes on some
game.
He would forget his wallet in the restaurant and keys in his
car. It’s hard to imagine that the genius Andrei, immaculate on the chessboard,
would be so clumsy in real life. The man who could think through lengthy lines
of variations in his head could not string together two words to hold a
conversation. He never spoke to my parents. He would say he didn’t have any
conversational skills. Surely, he could have learnt these skills, if only he
had made an effort.
car. It’s hard to imagine that the genius Andrei, immaculate on the chessboard,
would be so clumsy in real life. The man who could think through lengthy lines
of variations in his head could not string together two words to hold a
conversation. He never spoke to my parents. He would say he didn’t have any
conversational skills. Surely, he could have learnt these skills, if only he
had made an effort.
I kept my hopes up
for six long years and then one day I realized that ‘if only’ doesn’t work with
people like Andrei. If it could, he wouldn’t be Andrei then.
for six long years and then one day I realized that ‘if only’ doesn’t work with
people like Andrei. If it could, he wouldn’t be Andrei then.
About the Author:
Om Swami is a monk who lives in a remote place in the Himalayan
foothills. He has a bachelor degree in business and an MBA from Sydney,
Australia. Swami served in executive roles in large corporations around the
world. He founded and led a profitable software company with offices in San
Francisco, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney and India.
foothills. He has a bachelor degree in business and an MBA from Sydney,
Australia. Swami served in executive roles in large corporations around the
world. He founded and led a profitable software company with offices in San
Francisco, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney and India.
Om Swami completely renounced his business interests to pursue a
more spiritual life. He is the bestselling author of Kundalini: An Untold
Story, A Fistful of Love and If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir.
more spiritual life. He is the bestselling author of Kundalini: An Untold
Story, A Fistful of Love and If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir.
His blog omswami.com is read by millions all over the world.
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