Brunth Sundar Nitish wins Norway Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 25/06/2024

Brunth Sundar Nitish scored 6.5/9 to win Norway Chess Open Elo Group 2024. Marcin Zielinski (POL) scored 6.5/9 to secure second place. However, prize money is shared between the same scoring players as per tournament rules. Alina Shehzad (NOR) edged past five more players on tie-breaks to finish third. Despite a rough start 1.5/4, Brunth made a fantastic comeback by winning his last five games in-a-row to become the champion. IM Svyatoslav Bazakutsa (UKR) won the GM group scoring 7/9. The top three prizes in Elo group were €400, €250 and €150 each. The seven-day nine round rating tournament was organized by IA IO CM Hans Olav Lahlum (NOR) from 24th to 30th May at Clarion Hotel Energy in Stavanger, Norway. This is Brunth's first rating tournament triumph of his career. Photo: Henrik Sjøl

Brunth wins his last five games

It is not about having a great or a perfect start. What matters the most is how you finish things. Brunth Sundar Nitish scored 1.5/2 before losing the next two games which means he was at 1.5/4. However, he won his next five games, finishing with 6.5/9 and at the top of the points table. It also earned him his first-ever first place finish in a rating tournament.

Top two in Elo group - 2nd Marcin Zielinski (POL) 6.5/9 and 1st Brunth Sundar Nitish 6.5/9 | Photo: Henrik Sjøl

Top 5 (from the center): 5th Live Jorgensen Skigelstrand (NOR) 6/9, 3rd Alina Shehzad (NOR) 6/9, 1st Brunth Sundar Nitish 6.5/9 and 2nd Marcin Zielinski (POL) 6.5/9 | Photo: Henrik Sjøl

Brunth Sundar Nitish won his last five games after a slow start 1.5/4

IA IO CM Hans Olav Lahlum (NOR) with the GM-group winner - IM Svyatoslav Bazakuska (UKR) 7/9 | Photo: Henrik Sjøl

Thanks to Anniken Vestby of SjakkTromsø for sharing the photos.

A total of 34 players took part from nine countries across the world. The seven-day nine round Rating tournament was organized by IA IO Hans Olav Lahlum at Clarion Hotel Energy in Stavanger, Norway from 24th to 30th May 2024. The time control of the event was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Elo group

Pl	Name	Cl	GP	i-Rtg	Club	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Score	Med.Buchh	Buchholz-1	Buchholz	i-AvgRtg	i-Performance
1	Brunth Sundar Nitish		E	1676		22	15	03	14	19	18	08	11	04	6,5	35,5	41,5	45,5	1716	1857 (+76,40)
2	Marcin Zielinski		E	1730		29	12	23	26	16	08	09	04	03	6,5	34,5	40,5	43,5	1665	1831 (+25,00)
3	Alina Shehzad	F	3	1766	Stavanger	24	09	01	11	06	04	15	05	02	6,0	40,0	46,5	50,5	1727	1852 (+42,00)
4	Odmund Sande	V	1	1930	Stavanger	07		12	05	15	03	14	02	01	6,0	39,5	46,0	50,5	1702	1843 (-14,80)
5	Live Jorgensen Skigelstrand	F	E	1744		19	17	16	04	14	07	10	03	06	6,0	37,0	43,0	47,5	1678	1803 (+14,80)
6	Jean-Luc Grenier	V	E	1810		10	21	17	07	03	16	11	14	05	6,0	36,0	42,0	46,0	1661	1786 (-8,40)
7	Mojo Adnan Alexander Mestani		E	1593	Münchner Schachclub 1836	04	28	10	06	13	05	22	23	15	6,0	35,5	41,5	45,0	1675	1800 (+96,00)
8	Ole Smeby	V	1	1860	Kongsvinger	23	11	29	12	09	02	01	22	13	6,0	35,0	41,5	44,5	1629	1754 (-20,60)
9	Githiha Sathish	F	3	1668	Stavanger	20	03	14	21	08		02	12	16	5,5	36,0	42,5	46,5	1670	1757 (+41,20)