Pranesh M triumphs at Aix-en-Provence Dole Trophy International 2024, Abhimanyu Puranik third
GM Pranesh M scored 7.5/9 to win Aix-en-Provence Dole Trophy International A (>2100) 2024. It was the biggest chess tournament in France in a long time. Four players - GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli (FRA), GM Abhimanyu Puranik, GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA) and GM Bharath Subramaniyam H scored 7/9 each. They were placed second to fifth respectively according to tie-breaks. Pranesh defeated compatriot Iniyan in the final round to become. Abhimanyu's draw against Pierre, helped Pranesh to become champion. Pierre was the only player to beat the eventual champion, Pranesh. The total prize fund of three tournaments was €40000, €30000 for Group A. The top three prizes were €8000, €5500 and €3500 along with a trophy each. It was organized by Echiquier du Roy René in Aix-en-Provence, France from 20th to 28th July 2024. This was Pranesh's second tournament victory of the year. Photo: Eric Schneider
Indians claim five out of top ten, brothers claim both group A and B
Four players - GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli (FRA), GM Abhimanyu Puranik, GM Pa Iniyan and GM Pranesh M were the leaders 6.5/8 each heading into the final round. Pierre drew with Abhimanyu and Iniyan lost to Pranesh. Thus, he became a clear champion. Pranesh has more than one reason to be delighted about winning the biggest chess tournament in France, in a long time. The second reason is, his own elder brother, Dinesh Rajan M won the Group B (<2200). We will mention it in detail in a separate report.
Pranesh - Yuffa, Round 8
28.Nxc6 bxc6? was a positional mistake by GM Daniil Yuffa (ESP, 2609). His opponent, GM Pranesh M (2581) capitalized on his opportunity 29.Rxf7 Rxg5 30.Ne4 first improving his knight's position Ra5 31.Nd6+ Kb8 32.Rxe6 Rxa3 33.Kb2 White is now positionally winning as both of his rooks and knight are ready to pounce on the black king, whereas his opponent's rooks and knight are fragmented all over the board.
Thanks to GM Yannick Gozzoli, the reigning France champion, for sharing the photographs.
A total of 177 players including 31 GMs, 43 IMs, a WGM and 4 WIMs took part from 28 countries across the world in this nine-day nine-round Swiss League Rating Open A (>2100) tournament. It was organized by Echiquier du Roy René at Pasino Grand in Aix-en-Provence, France from 20th to 28th July 2024. The time control of the tournament was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Final standings in Open A
| Pl | Nom | Elo | Cat. | Fede | Ligue | Club | Pts | Tr. | Bu. | Perf | |
| 1 | g | PRANESH M | 2581 F | CadM |  | PAC | Cannes Echecs | 7½ | 43 | 53 | 2745 |
| 2 | g | LAURENT-PAOLI Pierre | 2560 F | SenM |  | PAC | Marseille-Echecs | 7 | 46 | 53 | 2742 |
| 3 | g | PURANIK Abhimanyu | 2634 F | SenM | | 7 | 44 | 53½ | 2702 | ||
| 4 | g | LAGARDE Maxime | 2608 F | SenM | | CVL | C'Chartres Echecs | 7 | 44 | 52½ | 2689 |
| 5 | g | BHARATH SUBRAMANIYAM | 2549 F | CadM | | PAC | Cannes Echecs | 7 | 41½ | 50 | 2687 |
| 6 | m | MALEK Jan | 2479 F | CadM |  | 6½ | 41½ | 49½ | 2625 | ||
| 7 | g | INIYAN Pa | 2533 F | SenM | | IDF | Echiquier de Franconville | 6½ | 41 | 50 | 2614 |
| 8 | g | YUFFA Daniil | 2609 F | SenM |  | PAC | L'Echiquier du Roy René | 6½ | 40½ | 49½ | 2601 |
| 9 | m | LAMARD Guillaume | 2501 F | SenM | | PAC | Cannes Echecs | 6½ | 40 | 49 | 2610 |
| 10 | g | GUPTA Abhijeet | 2587 F | SenM | | 6½ | 40 | 48½ | 2604 | ||
| 11 | g | KAZHGALEYEV Murtas | 2458 F | SepM |  | CVL | Club d'Echecs d'Avoine | 6½ | 40 | 48 | 2674 |
| 12 | m | VETOKHIN Savva | 2481 F | MinM |  | 6½ | 36½ | 42½ | 2606 | ||
| 13 | g | BELLAHCENE Bilel | 2535 F | SenM |  | EST | Bischwiller | 6½ | 35½ | 43½ | 2517 |
| 14 | m | BOYER Mahel | 2455 F | JunM | | PAC | L'Echiquier du Roy René | 6½ | 35 | 42 | 2515 |
| 15 | g | THEODOROU Nikolas | 2622 F | SenM |  | 6 | 43 | 52 | 2590 |
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