Neelash Saha dominates 2nd Matrix Cup Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/01/2024

IM Neelash Saha scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 2nd Matrix Cup Rating Open 2024. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. Kartavya Anadkat, Om Batra and Suraj Dahiya scored 8/9 each. They secured second, third and fourth place respectively according to tie-breaks. Neelash drew against the eventual runner-up Kartavya and defeated the second runner-up Om Batra. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹800000. The top three prizes were ₹101000, ₹75000 and ₹50000 along with a trophy each respectively. This is the first tournament Neelash played in 2024 and he won it. Currently, he is sharing the lead with GM Pranav Anand at 1st Bangalore GM 2024. Photos: FM FT FA Prasenjit Dutta/Matrix Chess Academy

Neelash clinches the first tournament he plays in 2024

IM Neelash Saha made a scorching start by winning his first eight games. He went into the final round with a sole lead 8/8. Kartavya Anadkat was the sole player trailing him by a half point at 7.5/8. Neelash drew against Kartavya to finish first, Kartavya secured second place. Om Batra defeated Ashok Gajwani to secure third place.

Champion - IM Neelash Saha 8.5/9

Runner-up - Kartavya Anadkat 8/9

Second Runner-up - Om Batra 8/9

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd Kartavya Anadkat 8/9, 1st IM Neelash Saha 8.5/9 and 3rd Om Batra 8/9

IM Neelash Saha scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the competition

Vaibhav Gautam scored an impressive 6.5/9 to win the first prize in Best Special Able category

Sonal Rawat, Principal of Bluebells School International, receives a memento from FM FT FA Prasenjit Dutta

Mr. A K Verma, Interim Secretary of All India Chess Federation, Mr. Rajiv Bagga and Mr. Rohit Khullar of DBS Bank Limited, and Mr. Nirmalchandra Rana of Bluebells School gave away the cash prizes and trophies to the winners.

Trophies for the prize winners

A total of 578 players including an IM took part from all over the country and one from USA. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Matrix Chess Academy at Bluebells School International in New Delhi from 3rd to 7th January 2024. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	1	IM	Neelash, Saha		IND	2446	WB	8,5	55,5	60	56,00	8
2	3		Anadkat, Kartavya		IND	2165	GUJ	8	54	57	49,00	7
3	17		Om, Batra		IND	1675	DEL	8	52,5	56,5	48,00	8
4	12		Suraj, Dahiya		IND	1803	HAR	8	52	56	47,50	8
5	16		Ayaan, Garg	U13	IND	1680	CHD	7,5	54	57,5	46,25	6
6	20		Pushpendra,		IND	1602	DEL	7,5	50	53,5	42,00	7
7	11		Pradeep, Tiwari		IND	1809	DASCB	7,5	49,5	54	43,75	6
8	25		Mehul, Sondhi	U11	IND	1570	DEL	7,5	49	52	42,25	7
9	15		Akshat, Negi		IND	1710	DEL	7,5	48,5	52	43,75	7
10	39		Aarit, Kapil	U09	IND	1494	DEL	7,5	48,5	52	40,75	7
11	91		Advik, Singh Chauhan	U11	IND	1306	HAR	7,5	48	52	42,75	6
12	7		Shaon, Chowdhury		IND	1897	WB	7,5	45,5	49,5	39,25	7
13	9		Ashok, Gajwani	S50	IND	1853	UP	7	51	55,5	41,00	6
14	43		Arnav, Dhamija		IND	1475	UP	7	51	55,5	40,50	7
15	13		Aryan, Ranjan		IND	1798	DEL	7	50,5	55	39,75	6
16	55		Vivek, Kumar		IND	1426	DEL	7	50	52,5	37,50	6
17	21		Mahir, Taneja	U13	IND	1598	DEL	7	48,5	52	38,50	6
18	44		Sanyam, Srivastava	U13	IND	1474	UP	7	48	52,5	39,00	7
19	10		Subramanian, R M		IND	1828	TN	7	47,5	51,5	38,75	5
20	109		Naman, Khandelwal	U13	IND	1268	HAR	7	47,5	51	36,00	7
21	5		Aansh, Gupta		IND	1991	DEL	7	47	52	38,50	7
22	53		Priyansh, Arora	U13	IND	1436	UP	7	47	51,5	40,00	6
23	50		Shreyas,		IND	1447	DEL	7	46	49,5	34,50	7
24	47		Vyom, Malhotra	U11	IND	1455	HAR	7	45	50	39,00	7
25	42		Tejas, Lohani		IND	1476	ODI	7	45	48,5	34,75	6