Ram Prakash decimates 1st Mahakal Rapid Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/01/2025

FM Ram Prakash scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 1st Mahakal Rapid Rating Open 2024. Ram finished a half point ahead of the rest. GM Himanshu Sharma, IM Himal Gusain and Mraduhas Tripathi scored 8/9 each. They secured second, third and fourth place respectively according to tie-breaks. The winner, Ram drew with the eventual runner-up and only GM in the field, Himanshu, in the penultimate round. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹125000. The top three prizes were ₹20000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. The two-day nine-round Swiss league rating tournament was organized by Ujjaini District Chess Association at Standford International School in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on 21st and 22nd December. This is Ram's third overall, first rating tournament triumph in 2024. Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Ram's third tournament triumph in 2024

FM Ram Prakash, IM Himal Gusain and GM Himanshu Sharma were the three leaders 7.5/8, heading into the final round. The top seed, Himanshu drew with Himal. CM Pawan Dodeja lost to FM Ram Prakash. Ram became champion, Himanshu second and Himal third.

Champion - FM Ram Prakash 8.5/9 | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Runner-up - GM Himanshu Sharma 8/9 | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Second Runner-up - IM Himal Gusain 8/9 | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

The guests present were - Bal Yogi Umesh Nath, Maharaj Peethadheeshwar Shri Valmiki Kshetra Dham Ujjain and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Dr. Katyayan G Mishra, Director of JK Hospital, IM Akshat Khamparia, Convener of MP Chess Ad-Hoc Committee, Dr. Sunil Somani, Vice Chancellor of Oriental University Indore, Anil Fatechandani, Member of MP Chess Ad-Hoc Committee, Dr. Jaya Mishra, Director, Standford International School Ujjain, MP, Dr. Tapan G Sharma, Anesthesiologist, Mukesh Tatwal, Mayor, Ujjain Municipal Corporation, Mr. Sonu G Gehlot, National President of Malkhamb Association, Prakash Sharma, MIC Member Ujjain Municipal Corporation, Dr. A K Pal, Tournament Director and Senior Pathologist, Dr. Ravi Goyal, Tournament Director and Senior Pathologist, Sundeep Kulshrestha, President of Ujjaini District Chess Association, Mahaveer Jain, Secretary of Ujjaini District Chess Association.

Ram Prakash scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 39 Elo rating points

Inauguration ceremony | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Inaugural first move | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Round 9: GM Himanshu Sharma - IM Himal Gusain: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Trophies and medals for the prize winners | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Players in action | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

The tournament hall at Standford International School in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Group photo of various prize winners | Photo: Ujjaini District Chess Association

Thanks to IM FT Akshat Khamparia for sharing photographs and information about the tournament.

A total of 338 players including a GM and IM participated from various states across the country. The three-day nine-round Swiss league Below 1800 Rating tournament was organized by Ujjaini District Chess Association at Standford International School in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on 21st and 22nd December 2024. The time control for the event was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	5	FM	Prakash Ram,		PB	IND	2003	Ludhiana	8,5	55	59,5	55,50	8
2	1	GM	Himanshu Sharma,		HR	IND	2312	Rohtak	8	54,5	56,5	48,25	7
3	2	IM	Gusain, Himal		CH	IND	2199	Chandigarh	8	54	56	49,00	7
4	8		Mraduhas, Tripathi		MP	IND	1771	Ujjain	8	51	55	47,00	8
5	4		Swain, Ashirwad		OR	IND	2062	Nayagarh	7,5	52	57	45,25	7
6	9		Devansh, Singh		MP	IND	1764	Ujjain	7,5	51	55	43,25	7
7	13		Saurabh Jain,		MP	IND	1649	Ujjain	7,5	50	54	42,75	7
8	6		Ajay, Virwani		MP	IND	1852	Indore	7,5	47,5	51	41,25	6
9	3	CM	Dodeja, Pawan		MH	IND	2120	Amravati	7	55,5	59,5	43,00	7
10	10		Kanwal Om Prakash,	S55	MP	IND	1757	Ujjain	7	51,5	56	41,00	7
11	7		Vedant Bhardwaj,		MP	IND	1790	Bhopal	7	51	55	40,00	6
12	11		Arbaz Shekh,		MP	IND	1714	Ujjain	7	50	52,5	38,00	7
13	47		Venus, Jha		MP	IND	1525	Sagar	7	49	53	39,00	7
14	19		Sanjeev, Singh Chauhan		MP	IND	1629	Ujjain	7	49	53	37,50	7
15	24		Ram Kumar Thakur,		CT	IND	1590	Bilaspur	7	48,5	53	37,00	7
16	18		Pushprajsinh Jitubha Zala,		GJ	IND	1630	Anjar	7	46,5	50,5	37,00	7
17	22		Atul Ranka,		MP	IND	1615	Ratlam	7	46,5	50	37,00	7
18	320		Utkarsh Bhagwat,		MP	IND	0	Ujjain	7	46	50	37,00	7
19	23		Dhuriya, Mukesh		MP	IND	1598	Dewas	7	44,5	49	37,50	7
20	12		Alankrit Songotra,		MP	IND	1657	Mandla	7	39	43	32,50	7