Consistent P Saravana Krishnan dominates Prague International Chess Festival 2024 Grand Prix
IM P Saravana Krishnan participated in seven different events at Prague International Chess Festival 2024. Saravana made five podium finishes out of them. He scored a staggering 1020 points in the entire Grand Prix and finished 255 points ahead of the runner-up, FM Nikoloz Chkhaidze (GEO). Saravana's performances are: Runner-up in F Solving competition; second runner-up in G Basque chess, H Rapid, J Fischer Random and K Pair Blitz. Each day after finishing his side events, he played his Classical game in D Open category. Saravana showed his passion and true dedication towards chess in not just one format or time control but across a multitude of formats and variants. Photo: Petr Vrabec/Prague International Chess Festival
Saravana scores a staggering 1020 points
To win a Grand Prix event, one needs to show consistency. The humble gentleman, IM P Saravana Krishnan showed that. Although, he did not win any one particular event separately, his consistent performance simply outshined all other Grand Prix participants. Five out of seven podium finishes in events across - Solving competition, Basque chess, Rapid, Fischer Random and Pair Blitz certainly shows his affinity towards chess. That's not all, he racked up 140 points in Daily Quiz. The last time an Indian won an entire event without winning any single event individually was - Vidit Gujrathi at 9th Gashimov Memorial 2023.
F Solving competition: Runner-up
IM P Saravana Krishnan, CM Milan Petras (CZE) and Michael Schwartz (RSA) scored 33 points each to share second place at F Solving competition. IM A R Ilamparthi won the event scoring 35 points.
Final standings in F Solving
| No. | Name | FideID | FED | Rtg | Gr | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IM | Ilamparthi, A R | 45015775 | IND | 2414 | 35 points | |
| 2 | IM | Saravana, Krishnan P. | 5018382 | IND | 2246 | 33 points | |
| 3 | CM | Petras, Milan | 306665 | CZE | 1941 | 33 points | |
| 4 | Schwartz, Michael | 14351048 | RSA | 1350 | 33 points |
G Basque chess: Second runner-up
Basque chess is a relatively new variant of chess. As seen in the photograph below, a person plays against the same opponent with both white and black color simultaneously when each board has its own chess clock. It eliminates the question of getting a particular color against an opponent and playing only one game. IM P Saravana Krishnan scored 10/14 to finish third. His sole 0-2 loss was against the eventual winner of the event - FM Marek Karas (CZE). Saravana defeated the runner-up, FM Nikoloz Chkhaidze (GEO) 2-0.
Final standings in G Basque
| Rk. | SNo | Name | sex | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | K | rtg+/- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | FM | Karas, Marek | CZE | 2190 | Klub Sachistu Ricany 1925 | 11,5 | 108,5 | 115 | 93,25 | 20 | 43,2 | ||
| 2 | 4 | FM | Chkhaidze, Nikoloz | GEO | 2145 | 10,5 | 105,5 | 112 | 78,00 | 20 | 24,8 | |||
| 3 | 5 | IM | Saravana, Krishnan P. | IND | 2140 | 10 | 120 | 124 | 84,25 | 20 | 35,6 |
H Rapid: Second Runner-up
GM Shyam Sundar M and FM Jachym Nemec (CZE) scored an unbeaten 6.5/7 to finish first and second respectively in H Rapid. IM P Saravana Krishnan scored 6/7 to finish third, due to better tie-breaks than four other players who also scored the same.
Final standings in H Rapid
| Rk. | SNo | Name | sex | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | K | rtg+/- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | GM | Shyam, Sundar M. | IND | 2464 | 6,5 | 30 | 34 | 31,00 | 10 | 3,3 | |||
| 2 | 7 | FM | Nemec, Jachym | CZE | 2245 | 6,5 | 29 | 32 | 29,00 | 40 | 54 | |||
| 3 | 14 | IM | Saravana, Krishnan P. | IND | 2140 | 6 | 30 | 33 | 26,50 | 20 | 37,4 |
J Fischer Random: Second Runner-up
FM Nikoloz Chkhaidze (GEO) and Marek Sykora (CZE) scored an unbeaten 6.5/7 each to finish first and second according to tie-breaks. IM P Saravana Krishnan scored sole 5/7 to secure third place.
Final standings in J Fischer Random
| Rk. | SNo | Name | sex | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | K | rtg+/- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | FM | Chkhaidze, Nikoloz | GEO | 2145 | 6,5 | 27 | 30,5 | 27,25 | 20 | 28,8 | |||
| 2 | 3 | Sykora, Marek | CZE | 2137 | Sk Zikuda Turnov, Z.S. | 6,5 | 26 | 29 | 25,75 | 20 | 20,2 | |||
| 3 | 2 | IM | Saravana, Krishnan P. | IND | 2140 | 5 | 27 | 28,5 | 16,00 | 20 | 0 |
K Pair Blitz: Second Runner-up
IM P Saravana Krishnan teamed up with 11-year-old CM Leonardo Vincenti (ITA) to score 16/22 and finish third. Saravana scored 10.5/11 alone, while Vincenti contributed 6/11 individually. Saravana's individual is the highest individually among the top three pair. They were one of the two teams where players formed a team from two different countries. Team Slovak-Karas and Kratochvil-Kosut secured the first and second place scoring 18/22 each, according to tie-breaks.
Final standings in K Pair Blitz
| Rk. | SNo | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Slovak/Karas | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 17,5 | 141,5 | |
| 2 | 5 | Kratochvil/Kosut | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 17 | 144,5 | |
| 3 | 3 | Vincenti/Saravana | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 16,5 | 143,5 |
Final standings in Grand Prix
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