Anish Gandhi wins Late Shripad Kulkarni Memorial All India Rating Open

by Shahid Ahmed - 19/12/2021

Fourth seeded Anish Gandhi scored 8.5/10, edged past Shriraj Bhosale on tie-breaks to clinch Late Shripad Kulkarni Memorial All India Open 2021. Four players - Ajay Kumar Rai, Yash Kapadi, Om Nagnath Lamkane and Aditya Bartakke scored 8.0/10 each. They were placed third to sixth accoring to tie-breaks. The tournament had the total prize fund of ₹101000 with the first prize being ₹21000 cash and a rolling trophy. It took place from 4th to 9th December at Jaylakshmi Sanskrutik Bhawan, at Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Check out the games of the top two finishers of this event along with photographs. Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

Anish's first Classical tournament triumph in over 5.5 years

The last Classical tournament Anish Gandhi won was 1st Karmveer V T Randhir Maharashtra Open Rating on 20th June 2016. A little over 5.5 years later, he won this event. Runner-up Shriraj Bhosale scored an unbeaten 8.5/10. Apart from beating IM Vikramaditya Kamble and drawing with IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam, perhaps his biggest feat is winning against the eventual winner, Anish Gandhi in the seventh round. 11-year-old Shreya G Hipparagi scored an impressive 7.5/10 to secure eighth place and gain a massive 166.8 Elo rating points.

Winner - Anish Gandhi 8.5/9 receives the rolling trophy | Photo: IA Vivek Sohaniy

Anish's only loss was against the eventual runner-up, Shivraj Bhosale

Anish won an important game in the penultimate round against Aditya Bartakke to take a half point lead.

Anish - Aditya, Round 9

Position after 18...b4

18...bxa4 keeps Black in the game. However, 18...b4 turns things in White's favor. Find out the subtle difference which gives White a positional advantage which is a decisive one.

Runner-up Shriraj Bhosale 8.5/10 | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

Shriraj Bhosale's best win of the event is certainly against the eventual winner, Anish Gandhi in the seventh round.

Shriraj - Anish, Round 8

Position after 26...Rxc4

Black had to play 26...Re4 as the text 26...Rxc4 falls the position apart for Black. Find out the winning continuation for White which Shriraj executed in the game.

All the prize Winners with the Guests and Organizing Committee | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

Hall Arrangements followed the local Covid-19 guidelines keeping as much social distance as possible | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

One of the most active chess veteran - Mr. Chandrakant Dongre | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

Inaugural moves are being made by the Chief Guests | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

Mr. Dhairyashil Patil, President of All India Consumer Products Distribution Federation, Mr. Girish Chitale, Vice President of Maharashtra Chess Association and Director of Chitale Group, along with Mr. Vishwavijay Khanvilkar, President of KDCA and Professor Arun Marathe, Ex President of KDCA were present at the inauguration ceremony.

Guests and Kulkarni Family paid respects to Late Shripad Kulkarni, Former Secretary, KDCA and Founder of Saras Group | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

IA Bharat Chougule welcoming Mr. Girish Chitale, Vice President, Maharashtra Chess Association, Director of Chitale Group | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

Mr. Vishwavijay Khanvilkar, President, KDCA welcoming Chief Guest Mr. Dhairyashil Patil, President, All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

The tournament was organized by Kolhapur Chess Academy from 4th to 9th December 2021 at Jaylakshmi Sanskrutik Bhawan at Kolhapur, Maharashtra. A total of 178 players including two IMs took part in the ten-round Swiss league event which had a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Replay all games

Final Standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	4		Gandhi Anish			KOP	IND	2175	Maharashtra	8,5	65,5	69,5	57,00	0,0	8
2	9		Bhosale Shriraj			KOP	IND	1872	Maharashtra	8,5	61,5	66,5	55,50	0,0	7
3	6		Ajay Kumar Rai				IND	1922	DASCB	8,0	66,0	71,5	55,00	0,0	7
4	12		Kapadi Yash				IND	1744	Maharashtra	8,0	62,0	66,5	51,25	0,0	7
5	14		Om Nagnath Lamkane				IND	1714	Maharashtra	8,0	61,0	65,0	50,00	0,0	7
6	15		Bartakke Aditya				IND	1678	Maharashtra	8,0	59,0	62,0	45,50	0,0	8
7	13		Patil Priyanshu				IND	1723	Maharashtra	7,5	60,5	64,5	44,50	0,0	7
8	51		Shreya G Hipparagi	U12	w		IND	1312	Maharashtra	7,5	59,5	63,0	46,25	0,0	5
9	5		Mahindrakar Indrajeet				IND	2118	Maharashtra	7,5	58,0	63,0	45,00	0,0	7
10	2	IM	Ramnathan Balasubramaniam				IND	2181	Tamil Nadu	7,0	63,0	68,5	46,00	0,0	5
11	26		Bapat Aniket				IND	1530	Maharashtra	7,0	62,0	65,5	42,25	0,0	6
12	8		Pradeep Tiwari				IND	1887	DASCB	7,0	61,5	66,0	41,00	0,0	7
13	67		Gaikwad Manas	U12			IND	1243	Maharashtra	7,0	61,0	63,5	42,50	0,0	7
14	10		Viswanath Sandilya B.				IND	1802	Maharashtra	7,0	58,0	62,5	42,50	0,0	5
15	19		Khasbardar Soham			KOP	IND	1571	Maharashtra	7,0	55,5	59,5	36,50	0,0	7