Rathanvel wins Kashvi's 1st Rapid Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/12/2023

IM Rathanvel V S, GM Pranav V, Balkishan A and IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh scored 8/9 at Kashvi's 1st Rapid Rating Open 2023. GM-elect Rathanvel won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. Pranav, Balkishan and Nubairshah were placed second, third and fourth respectively. Only Pranav remained undefeated among them. Balkishan is the sole untitled player among the top ten. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹2600000. It is the highest ever prize fund for a rapid rating open event in India. The top three prizes were ₹105000, ₹70000 and ₹50000 along with a trophy each respectively. This was Rathanvel's second rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Kashvi Chess School Kundapura

The highest ever prize fund for a rapid rating open in India

IM Rathanvel V S had a blazing start scoring eight consecutive victories. He had a full point lead 8/8 heading into the final round. Despite his final round loss to GM Pranav V, it did not deter his championship chances. Pranav secured second place. Untitled Balkishan A defeated FM Goutham Krishna H to finish third. Mangaluru's very own and Karnataka's first WIM Isha Sharma made a fantastic start 6.5/7 including a draw against the eventual runner-up Pranav and win over IM Himal Gusain. However, two losses in the final two rounds pushed her to 25th place. Nevertheless, she still managed to become the top woman finisher of the event.

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd GM Pranav V 8/9, 1st IM Rathanvel V S 8/9 and 3rd Balkishan A 8/9

IM Rathanvel V S scored eight wins in-a-row, the last round loss did not affect his championship hopes

Specially Abled Top 3: 1st Surypratap Singh 5.5/9, 2nd CM Samarth J Rao 5.5/9 and 3rd Kannan V 5/9

Mangaluru, Karnataka's latest IM Sharan Rao lighting up the lamp

IM Sharan Rao delivers his speech at the inauguration ceremony

IM Sharan Rao, Mr. Ramesh Kote, President of Dakshina Kannada District Chess Association, Mr. Sadashiva Shetty, Event Chairman, and Mr. Naresh B, Founder President, Kashvi Chess School, Kundapura inaugurated the tournament.

Various side activities for the parents and accompanying persons

Waiting area for parents and accompanying persons

Young prize winners

Chief Arbiter - IA Vasanth B H

Arbiters' team

India's third GM in history - Pravin Thipsay

Mr. N Santosh Hegde, former Supreme Court Judge and former Lokayukta, Government of Karnataka, GM Pravin Mahadeo Thipsay, Maharashtra, Mr. Prakash C Shetty, Proprietor, Kateeleshwari Developers, Mr. Sadashiva Shetty Event, Chairman, Mr. Suresh Kumar, Event Advisor, Ramesh Kote. President, Dakshina Kannada Chess Association and Mr. Naresh B, Founder President, Kashvi Chess School, Kunadapura distributed the prizes to winners.

Trophies for the prize winners

The tournament hall at Indiana Convention Center in Mangaluru, Karnataka

Thanks to Kashvi Chess School Kundapura for sharing photos and info about the tournament.

A total of 400 players including 3 GMs, 12 IMs and a WIM took part from various states across the country and one from USA in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Kashvi Chess School, Kundapura at Indiana Convention Center in Mangaluru, Karnataka on 9th and 10th December 2023. The time control of the event was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	5	IM	Rathanvel, V S			IND	2318	Tn	8	52,5	55,5	47,50
2	2	GM	Pranav, V			IND	2472	Tn	8	52	56	49,75
3	43		Balkishan, A.		BLU170698	IND	1818	Ka	8	48,5	52,5	46,00
4	6	IM	Mohammad, Nubairshah Shaikh			IND	2277	Mh	8	48	52	45,50
5	3	IM	Shyaamnikhil, P			IND	2352	I C F	7,5	53	57,5	46,75
6	18	CM	Vaibhav, Jayant Raut			IND	2150	Mh	7,5	48,5	52,5	42,50
7	4	IM	Nitish, Belurkar			IND	2321	Ga	7,5	48	52,5	42,25
8	12	IM	Gusain, Himal			IND	2225	Ch	7,5	48	51	41,25
9	8	IM	Sammed Jaykumar, Shete			IND	2268	Mh	7,5	47,5	51,5	42,50
10	13	GM	Laxman, R.R.			IND	2216	I C F	7	52,5	57	43,25
11	11	IM	Aswath, S			IND	2235	Tn	7	52,5	57	41,50
12	24	FM	Goutham, Krishna H	U14		IND	1984	Kl	7	52	56	40,75
13	26		Shet Prajwal P,		10596KSCA2023	IND	1974	Ka	7	51	55	39,00
14	25		Nayak, Biswajit			IND	1980	Or	7	50,5	55,5	40,50
15	21		Nithin Babu,			IND	2087	Kl	7	50	54	39,50
16	20		Arpith S Bijoy,			IND	2093	Kl	7	49	53,5	40,75
17	7	IM	Viani, Antonio Dcunha		DKA180826	IND	2277	Ka-Dk	7	48,5	52,5	39,75
18	80		Akshat Negi,			IND	1497	Dl	7	48	52	39,50
19	17	FM	Sharan Rao,		10519KSCA2023	IND	2154	Ka-Dk	7	47,5	51,5	37,50
20	23	CM	John Veny Akkarakaran,			IND	2026	Kl	7	47	51,5	38,50