Marthandan K U wins Late Shri Vasudeva V Dempo Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 28/11/2023

Marthandan K U and Santu Mondal scored 7.5/9 each at Late Shri Vasudeva V Dempo Rating Open 2023. Marthandan won the tournament due to better tie-break score, Santu was placed second. Santu remained undefeated. He had beaten the eventual champion, Marthandan in the seventh round. Seven players scored 7/9 each. Out of them, the top seed of the event, GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury secured the third place. He also remained unbeaten. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹370000. The top three prizes were ₹53000, ₹37000 and ₹27000 along with a trophy each. This was Marthandan's twelfth overall, third rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: IA Arvind Mhamal

Marthandan's twelfth tournament triumph of the year

Santu Mondal was the sole leader heading into the final round 7/8. Five players - Marthandan K U, GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury, Anilkumar O T, Siddhanth Poonja and Saurish Kashelkar were trailing him by a half point at 6.5/8. Santu drew against GM Saptarshi and Marthandan defeated Saurish. Marthdan became champion, Santu second and Saptarshi third. Despite a loss in the final round, 1198-rated 16-year-old talent, reigning Ratnagiri district Under-17 and 19 champion, Saurish gained 181.6 Elo rating points for his fantastic performance of scoring 6.5/9.

Champion - Marthandan K U 7.5/9

Runner-up - Santu Mondal 7.5/9

Second Runner-up - Saptarshi RoyChowdhury 7/9

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd Santu Mondal 7.5/9, 1st Marthandan K U 7.5/9 and 3rd GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury 7/9

L to R: Mrs. Pallavi Kakodkar, FA Dattaram Pinge, Ashesh Keni, Secretary GCA, Mahesh Candolkar, President GCA, Guest Rajesh Dempo, Santu Mondal, Runner-up, Marthandan K U, Champion, GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury, Second Runner-up, GM Anurag Mhamal, IA Arvind Mhamal, Chief Arbiter, Satyawan Harmalkar and Atish Angle.

Prizes were distributed by the Guest - Rajesh Dempo and GM Anurag Mhamal in presence of Mahesh Candolkar, President GCA, Ashesh Keni, Secretary GCA, IA Arvind Mhamal, Chief Arbiter, FA Dattaram Pinge, Secretary TTCA, Satyawan Harmalkar, Atish Angle, Pallavi Kakodkar and others.

Marthandan K U scored 7.5/9 and gained 5 Elo rating points

Inauguration Ceremony

Sitting (L to R): Chief Guest - Mrs. Pallavi Dempo, Executive Director of Dempo Industries Ltd. with Suhas Asnodkar, former Secretary of Goa Chess Association

Standing (L to R): Naresh Pednekar, Pallavi Kakodkar, Sagar Sakordekar, IA Arvind Mhamal, Chief Arbiter, Mahesh Candolkar, President GCA, FA Dattaram Pinge, Secretary TTCA, Atish Angle and Sandesh Amonkar.

The tournament was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Mrs. Pallavi Dempo, Executive Director of Dempo Industries Ltd. by lighting the traditional lamp and making the first move on the board with Suhas Asnodkar, former Secretary of Goa Chess Association in the presence of Mahesh Candolkar, Arvind Mhamal, Dattaram Pinge, Sagar Sakordekar, Atish Angle, Naresh Pednekar, Sandesh Amonkar, Prakash Sawant, Pallavi Kakodkar and others.

Thanks to IA Arvind Mhamal, Chief Arbtier of the tournament, for sharing photos and info about the tournament.

A total of 159 players including a GM and an IM took part from various places of India and one from Hungary in this six-day nine round Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Tiswadi Taluka Chess Association at Gomantak Maratha Samaj Hall in Panaji, Goa from 17th to 22nd November 2023. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	7		Marthandan, K U			1921	Kerala	7,5	51,5	55,5	45,25	7
2	4		Santu, Mondal			2008	IT	7,5	51	56	45,75	6
3	1	GM	Roy Chowdhury, Saptarshi			2272	RSPB	7	52,5	57	43,25	5
4	8		Anilkumar, O.T.	S60		1862	Kerala	7	51	56	42,75	5
5	11		Siddhanth, Poonja	U11		1754	Karnataka	7	50	54	39,50	6
6	15		Joy, Lazar M.A.			1645	Kerala	7	49,5	53,5	39,25	6
7	5		Lad, Mandar Pradip			1953	Goa	7	49	53,5	39,75	5
8	6	FM	Ramakrishna, J.			1933	Union Bank	7	48	52,5	38,00	7
9	9		Pradeep, Tiwari			1854	DASCB	7	45,5	49,5	36,25	6
10	3	FM	Dutta, Joydeep			2097	RSPB	6,5	50,5	55,5	38,25	6
11	63		Saurish, Kashelkar			1198	Maharashtra	6,5	49	52	34,75	6
12	20		Shirodkar, Aayush			1615	Goa	6,5	48,5	52	34,50	5
13	19		Ahaz, E U	U13		1616	Kerala	6,5	47	51,5	34,75	5
14	14		Ian, Savio Rodrigues			1668	Tiswadi	6,5	45	49	34,75	5
15	56		Joshua, Mark Telles	U9		1235	Goa	6,5	42,5	46,5	30,50	6
16	26		Asmita, Avijit Ray	U15F	w	1476	Goa	6,5	42,5	44	28,75	6
17	32		Rudra, Rajeev	U13F	w	1407	Karnataka	6,5	41	44,5	30,00	6
18	27		Nagvekar, Sairudra			1472	Goa	6	48	52	31,75	5
19	17		Kirpesh, I	U15		1622	T N	6	48	52	30,50	6
20	13		Aditya, Savalkar			1733	Maharashtra	6	47,5	51,5	31,00	5