Himal Gusain dominates 1st G H Raisoni Memorial Pune Rapid Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/10/2023

IM Himal Gusain scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 1st G H Raisoni Memorial Pune Rapid Rating Open 2023. Himal finished a half point ahead of the competition. FM J Ramakrishna and FM Nikhil Dixit scored 8/9 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. Himal defeated the eventual runner-up Ramakrishna in the penultimate round. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹30000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each respectively. This is Himal's fifth tournament triumph of the year. Photos: IA Vinita Shrotri/Pune District Chess Circle

Himal's fifth tournament triumph of 2023

IM Himal Gusain was the sole leader 7.5/8 heading into the final round. Six players - FM J Ramakrishna, IM Anup Deshmukh, FM Nikhil Dixit, Shrayan Majumder, CM Vaibhav Jayant Raut and Kartavya Anadkat were in pursuit 7/8 each. Himal defeated the revered veteran Anup in the final round to become a clear champion. Ramakrishna and Nikhil won against Vaibhav and Kartavya respectively to secure second and third place.

Champion - IM Himal Gusain 8.5/9

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd FM J Ramakrishna 8/9, 1st IM Himal Gusain 8.5/9 and 3rd FM Nikhil Dixit 8/9

IM Himal Gusain scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 26 Elo rating points

A total of 281 players including a GM and 4 IMs took part from various places all over the country and one from USA in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by G H Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation at G H Raisoni Institute of Engineering & Management in Pune, Maharashtra on 1st and 2nd October 2023. The time control of the event was 20 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	6	IM	Gusain, Himal				IND	2198	Chandigarh	8,5	53,5	56	52,75	0	8
2	9	FM	Ramakrishna, J.				IND	2038	Union Bank Of India	8	55,5	58,5	50,00	0	8
3	7	FM	Dixit, Nikhil			Pune	IND	2171	Maharashtra	8	52	54,5	48,00	0	8
4	4	GM	Laxman, R.R.				IND	2223	I.C.F	7,5	50,5	53	44,00	0	7
5	16		Vrandesh, Parekh				IND	1739	Gujarat	7,5	48	51	42,75	0	7
6	21		Nirgun, Keval			Pune	IND	1717	Maharashtra	7,5	47,5	50,5	39,50	0	7
7	5	IM	Deshmukh, Anup	S55			IND	2217	Maharashtra	7	54	58	42,00	0	7
8	22		Majumder, Shrayan				IND	1700	Maharashtra	7	51	53	37,00	0	7
9	2	IM	Sammed, Jaykumar Shete				IND	2269	Maharashtra	7	50,5	54	39,50	0	7
10	13		Nikhil, M				IND	1904		7	49,5	54	39,50	0	7
11	3	FM	Gahan, M G				IND	2264	Karnataka	7	49,5	53,5	35,00	0	7
12	8	CM	Vaibhav, Jayant Raut				IND	2132	Maharashtra	7	49,5	50,5	36,00	0	7
13	12		Anadkat, Kartavya				IND	1924	Gujarat	7	48,5	51,5	38,50	0	7
14	20		Patil, Priyanshu				IND	1724	Maharashtra	7	48	50	37,00	0	7
15	23		Chavan, Nameet			Pune	IND	1695		7	45,5	48,5	34,50	0	7