Atharva Madkar triumphs at Belgaum Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/01/2025

Atharva Madkar scored 8/9 to win Belgaum Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Dr. Prajwal P Shet scored sole 7.5/9 to secure second place. Six players scored 7/9 each. Among them, IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam was placed third according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹325000. The top three prizes were ₹55000, ₹35000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each respectively. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Lions Club of Belgaum, Midtown in association with Belgaum District Chess Association at Dharmnath Bhavan, Ram Nagar in Belgaum, Karnataka from 4th to 8th January 2025. Atharva won the first tournament he played in 2025. Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Atharva wins the first tournament he plays this year

Atharva Madkar and Viraj Rane were the coleaders 7/8, heading into the final round. Viraj lost to Atharva and he became a clear champion. Dr. Prajwal P Shet defeated Afreed T Khan to finish third. IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam got the better of Aravinda B R to be placed third. 10-year-old Ashokh Samaksh scored an impressive 7/9 to finish fourth. Shreya G Hipparagi and Ishwari Jagadale are two girls to make a top ten finish. They scored 7/9 and 6.5/9 to claim seventh and tenth place respectively. Atharva also went on to win Late Shri Manohar Parrikar Goa Below 2000 Category B Tournament 2025 in a week after clinching this event.

Champion - Atharva Madkar 8/9 | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Runner-up - Dr. Prajwal P Shet 7.5/9 | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Second Runner-up - IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam 7/9 | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd Prajwal P Shet 7.5/9, 1st Atharva Madkar 8/9 and 3rd IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam 7/9 | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Atharva Madkar scored 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 25 Elo rating points

7th Shreya G Hipparagi 7/9 | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Inaugural first move | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Top boards | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Players in action | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Arbiters team | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

Players, parents and accompanying persons at the closing ceremony | Photo: Aakash Madiwalar

A total of 164 players including an IM took part from all over the country and three from Malaysia. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Lions Club of Belgaum Midtown, Belagavi in association with Belgaum District Chess Association at Dharmnath Bhavan, Ram Nagar in Belagavi, Karnataka from 4th to 8th January 2025. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	4		Madkar, Atharva			IND	1935	Mah	8	52,5	56	49,00	8
2	1		Shet, Prajwal P			IND	2094	Kar	7,5	49	53	43,25	7
3	2	IM	Ramnathan, Balasubramaniam			IND	2000	Tn	7	52,5	55	40,00	6
4	9		Samaksh, Ashok	U11		IND	1821	Kar	7	51,5	55,5	41,50	7
5	11		Vikramaditya, Abhijit Chavan			IND	1810	Mah	7	50	54,5	40,25	6
6	14		Rane, Viraj	U13		IND	1716	Mah	7	50	51	36,25	6
7	8		Shreya, G Hipparagi	F18	w	IND	1833	Mah	7	48,5	51,5	37,50	6
8	12	AFM	Dahale, Rajas			IND	1753	BEL	7	47	51	37,25	6
9	5		Afreed, T Khan			IND	1928	Ap	6,5	50	54	36,75	5
10	7		Jagadale, Ishwari	F18	w	IND	1845	Mah	6,5	49,5	51,5	34,25	5
11	29		Khan, Raees Ahmed			IND	1586	BEL	6,5	47	51,5	34,50	5
12	3		Raghav, Srivathsav V			IND	1964	Tel	6,5	46,5	51	35,00	6
13	10		Srikara, Darbha			IND	1811	BEL	6,5	46	50,5	34,25	5
14	30	ACM	Achinthya, Bhat			IND	1568	Dk	6,5	45	49	33,00	6
15	17	AFM	Pawar, Sohum			IND	1691	Mah	6,5	44	48	33,00	5
16	16		Chavan, Aditya			IND	1713	Mah	6	49	53	30,50	6
17	32		Bhuvan, D			IND	1563	Kar	6	48	50	29,50	5
18	56		Anirudh, Dattatreyarao Dasari			IND	1415	BEL	6	47	52	34,00	5
19	13	WCM	Bhillva, Nilaya Kondari Eswara Krishna	F18	w	IND	1745	Ap	6	46,5	49,5	30,00	5
20	15		Aravinda, B R			IND	1715	Kar	6	45	49	30,50	5