Nitish Belurkar clear first at 20th Shri Maheshwaranand Saraswati Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/12/2024

IM Nitish Belurkar scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 20th Shri Maheshwaranand Saraswati Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2024. He finished a half point ahead of the field. FM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi, FM Suyog Wagh and Nameet Chavan scored 8/9 each. They secured second, third and fourth place according to tie-breaks. Nitish drew with the eventual runner-up, Aakash in Round 7. The total prize fund was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹75000 + trophy, ₹50000 + trophy and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. The one-day nine-round Swiss league rapid rating tournament was organized by Buddhibal Kreeda Trust at Ashwamedh hall and Shree Ganesh Sabhagruh, in Pune, Maharashtra on 1st December. This is Nitish's fourth tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Prakash Kunte

Nitish's fourth tournament triumph of the year

IM Nitish Belurkar, FM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi and Viresh Sharnarthi were the three leaders 7.5/8 each, going into the final round. Nitish defeated Viresh to become a clear champion. IM Himal Gusain drew with Aakash. The latter secured second place. IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam lost to FM Suyog Wagh and Suyog finished third. Nitish won his fifth tournament in 2024, exactly a week after winning this event.

Champion - IM Nitish Belurkar 8.5/9 | Photo: Prakash Kunte

Runner-up - FM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi 8/9 | Photo: Prakash Kunte

Top five (L to R): 3rd FM Suyog Wagh 8/9, 1st IM Nitish Belurkar 8.5/9, 2nd FM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi 8/9 and 5th GM Abhimanyu Puranik 7.5/9 | Photo: Prakash Kunte

IM FT Chandrashekhar Gokhale was the Chief Guest for Prize distribution function. Vilas Mhatre, Treasurer, MCA and IA Rajendra Shidore were also present.

IM Nitish Belurkar scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 28 Elo rating points

Opening ceremony | Photo: Prakash Kunte

Ashish Desai, owner of Sujanil Chemicas was Chief Guest for opening function. Treasurer of MCA - Vilas Mhatre and GM Abhijit Kunte were on the dias.

Shradha Vinchvekar who obtained IA title was felicitated by Buddhibal Kreeda Trust | Photo: Prakash Kunte

Viresh Sharnarthi, Prathamesh Sherla and Mihir Sarvade were provided a sponsorship worth ₹12000 each for the upcoming Goa GM tournament in January 2025 | Photo: Prakash Kunte

Thanks to Mr. Prakash Kunte for sharing photographs and information about the tournament.

A total of 428 players including a GM and ten IMs took part from various parts of India, one from Germany, Netherlands and USA, three from Iceland. The tournament was organized by Buddhibal Kreeda Trust at Ashwamedh hall and Shree Ganesh Sabhagruh in Pune, Maharashtra on 1st December. The nine-round Swiss league Rating tournament had a time control of 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5	Rp
1	4	IM	Nitish, Belurkar		IND	2257	8,5	55	59	55,00	8	2335
2	9	FM	Aakash Sharadchandra, Dalvi		IND	2160	8	54	58,5	50,50	7	2189
3	3	FM	Wagh, Suyog		IND	2277	8	50,5	55	49,00	8	2084
4	30		Chavan, Nameet		IND	1859	8	50	54,5	47,50	8	2252
5	1	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu		IND	2547	7,5	52	56,5	45,75	7	2052
6	8	IM	Gusain, Himal		IND	2199	7,5	51	55	44,00	7	2122
7	10	IM	Kathmale, Sameer		IND	2149	7,5	50,5	54,5	43,25	7	2134
8	18		Sharnarthi, Viresh		IND	1996	7,5	49	53	41,75	7	2075
9	6	IM	Audi, Ameya		IND	2241	7,5	47,5	50	40,75	7	1946
10	5	IM	Sammed Jaykumar, Shete		IND	2252	7	53,5	57,5	41,00	7	2071
11	14		Bakliwal, Gaurav		IND	2106	7	52	57	42,50	6	2054
12	20	IM	Ramnathan, Balasubramaniam		IND	1978	7	52	57	42,00	7	2000
13	15	WFM	Deodhar, Vrushali Umesh	w	IND	2059	7	51,5	56	40,50	7	1965
14	12	FM	Dixit, Nikhil		IND	2121	7	51,5	55,5	41,00	7	1959
15	7	IM	Viani, Antonio Dcunha		IND	2229	7	51	56	41,00	7	1921