Ameya Audi clinches Late Venkatesh and Sumathi Shanbag Memorial 2nd Rapid Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 28/01/2023

IM Ameya Audi scored a sensational 9/9 to win Late Venkatesh and Sumathi Shanbag Memorial 2nd Rapid Rating Open 2023. He finished a full point ahead of the competition. Lad Mandar Pradip and IM Nitish Belurkar scored 8/9 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹100000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. The winner also received a rolling trophy. A total of 312 players including a GM and 3 IMs took part from various part of the country. Photo: FA Swapnil Hoble

Ameya makes a perfect 9/9

IM Ameya Audi has won many tournaments before. However, winning the first tournament he started in 2023 and that also in Goa, is certainly quite special. Not only Ameya but the next three places were also claimed by players from Goa - Lad Mandar Pradip, IM Nitish Belurkar and Reuben Colaco secured second to fourth place respectively.

Top 3 (L to R) - 2nd Lad Mandar Pradip 8/9, 1st IM Ameya Audi 9/9 and 3rd IM Nitish Belurkar | Photo: FA Swapnil Hoble

Dress code participants | Photo: FA Swapnil Hoble

Dress code winners | Photo: FA Swapnil Hoble

To add some flavor to the tournament, an optional formal dress code was followed on the final day. The players wearing the same qualified for the lucky draw. The dignitaries drew the lucky winners and three players were awarded prizes in the form of FIFA World Cup top three teams' jerseys.

IM Ameya Audi scored a perfect 9/9 and gained 6.8 Elo rating points

Ceremonial first move is being made | Photo: Krishna Daji Salkar fb

The tournament hall at St. Therese's High School, Vasco, Goa | Photo: Krishna Daji Salkar fb

Players enjoying the lunch sponsored by Jt. Secretary MTCA - Sujan Sukthankar. | Photo: FA Swapnil Hoble

All prize winners | Photo: FA Swapnil Hoble

The prizes were given away by Vinay Tendulkar, Rajya Sabha Member, Chief Guest, Krishna (Daji) Salkar, MLA from Vasco, Sukant Shanbhag, Sponsors, Kishor Bandekar, President, MTCA, Mukund Kambli, Organising Secretary, Pundalik Naik, MTCA Treasurer. The function was compered by VP MTCA, Mukesh Adhia and tournament was conducted by Chief Arbiter IA Sanjay Kavlekar and Deputy Arbiters FA Swapnil Hoble, FA Gautam Tari and Snehil Shetty.

The trophies for the prize winners | Photo: MTCA

Thanks to FA Swapnil Hoble for sharing the photos and information about the tournament.

A total of 312 players including a GM and 3 IMs took part from all over India and one from Hungary. The two-day nine-round Swiss league Rapid Rating tournament was organized by Mormugao Taluka Chess Association at St. Therese's High School, Vasco, Goa on 7th and 8th January 2023. The time control of the tournament was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	RtgI	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	2	IM	Audi Ameya			NA	IND	2301	GOA	9	53,5	45,5	57,50	9	0
2	15		Lad Mandar Pradip			c	IND	1860	GOA	8	54	45	49,00	8	0
3	1	IM	Nitish Belurkar			NA	IND	2335	GOA	8	51	43,5	47,00	8	0
4	20		Colaco Reuben			c	IND	1699	GOA	7,5	57	48	48,25	7	0
5	3	GM	Laxman R.R.	S40		NA	IND	2257	ICF	7,5	50,5	43	44,00	6	0
6	7	FM	Deshpande Aniruddha			NA	IND	2121	MAHARASHTRA	7,5	49,5	42	41,75	7	0
7	10	IM	Ramnathan Balasubramaniam	S40		c	IND	1917	TN	7	54	45	41,00	7	0
8	9	FM	Sauravh Khherdekar	S40		NA	IND	2029	MAHARASHTRA	7	52,5	44,5	41,00	7	0
9	24	AFM	Vasant Vishnu Naik	S40		c	IND	1547	GOA	7	52	44,5	42,25	6	0
10	5	FM	Matta Vinay Kumar			c	IND	2154	Union Bank of India	7	52	44	41,00	7	0
11	13		Harisurya Bharadwaj Gundepudi			C	IND	1881	Andhra Pradesh	7	52	43	40,50	7	0
12	6	CM	Soham Datar			NA	IND	2122	MAHARASHTRA	7	51,5	44	41,00	7	0
13	4	CM	Gopal K.N.	S40		c	IND	2161	Union Bank of India	7	51,5	43,5	38,50	7	0
14	21		Konatham Snehil			c	IND	1675	Andhra Pradesh	7	50,5	41,5	37,25	6	0
15	25		Parsekar Anirudh			c	IND	1539	GOS	7	50	43	39,00	6	0
16	26		Paarth P Salvi			c	IND	1523	GOA	7	47,5	40,5	36,00	7	0
17	19		Devesh Anand Naik			c	IND	1725	GOA	7	47,5	39,5	36,50	7	0
18	23		Kambli Datta			C	IND	1580	GOA	7	47	40	36,00	7	0
19	18		Kochrekar Vishwesh			c	IND	1731	MAHARASHTRA	6,5	51	43,5	36,50	6	0
20	16		Bezstrakhov Dmitry			c	RUS	1836	RUSSIA	6,5	50	42	32,25	6	0