Senthil Maran wins 1st Battle Field Rapid Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/02/2024

FM Senthil Maran K, IM Murali Krishnan B T and WFM Jyothsna L scored an unbeaten 8/9 each at 1st Battle Field Rapid Rating Open 2024. Senthil won the tournament on tie-breaks. Murali and Jyothsna were placed second and third respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹20000 and ₹16000 along with a trophy each. The two-day rapid rating tournament was organized by Battle Field Chess Academy on 26th and 27th January 2024 at Knowledge Institute of Technology in Salem, Tamil Nadu. This is the second rating tournament Senthil played in 2024 and he won it without losing a single game. Photos: IA Dr. Sathiesh G G

Top three score an unbeaten 8/9

WFM Jyothsna L was the sole leader 7.5/8 heading into the final round. Seven players - IM Murali Krishnan B T, FM Senthil Maran K, Yashwant B, FM P Maheswaran, Neeraj Kumar M, Kalyani Sirin and P Rajasekaran were trailing her by a half point at 7/8 each. Jyothsna drew with Maheswaran. Murali and Senthil defeated Kalyani and Rajasekaran respectively. Senthil became champion, Murali second and Jyothsna third. Apart from Jyothsna, Kalyani is the only other female player to make a top ten finish. She scored 7/9 to finish ninth.

Champion - FM Senthil Maran K 8/9

Runner-up - IM Murali Krishnan B T 8/9

Second Runner-up - WFM Jyothsna L 8/9

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd IM Murali Krishna B T 8/9, 1st FM Senthil Maran K 8/9 and 3rd WFM Jyothsna L 8/9 | Photo: IA Dr. Sathiesh G G

FM Senthil Maran K scored an unbeaten 8/9, drew with the top seed GM Akash G and eventual runner-up, IM Murali Krishnan B T, also gained 12.6 Elo rating points

4th GM Akash G 7.5/9

5th Neeraj Kumar M 7.5/9

Players in action

The tournament banner

Various prize winners

Closing ceremony

Players, parents and accompanying persons at the closing ceremony

The tournament hall at Knowledge Institute of Technology in Salem, Tamil Nadu

Thanks to IA Dr. Sathiesh G G, Chief Arbiter of the tournament, for sharing the photos.

A total of 443 players including a GM and an IM took part from various states across the country. The two-day nine round Rapid Rating tournament was organized by Battle Field Chess Academy at Knowledge Institute of Technology in Salem, Tamil Nadu on 26th and 27th January 2024. The time control of the event was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	4	FM	Senthil, Maran K			11833TLR2023	IND	2084	TN	8	54,5	59	51,25	7
2	3	IM	Murali, Krishnan B T			LM	IND	2107	TN	8	54	58,5	50,50	7
3	7	WFM	Jyothsna, L		w	4171CBE2023	IND	1858	TN	8	52,5	56	48,25	7
4	1	GM	Akash, G				IND	2376	TN	7,5	54,5	57	45,50	7
5	14		Neeraj Kumar, M.			NA	IND	1679	KA	7,5	53	56,5	45,75	7
6	19		Yashwant, B	U16			IND	1628	TN	7,5	53	55,5	44,00	6
7	2	FM	Maheswaran, P.				IND	2124	TN	7,5	52	56,5	45,50	6
8	9		Selvamurugan, B				IND	1815	TN	7,5	52	56	41,50	6
9	22		Kalyani, Sirin	F16	w		IND	1605	KL	7	54	57,5	42,50	6
10	15		Rajasekaran, P.			7332TUT2023	IND	1660	TN	7	52	56	40,00	7
11	6		Peter Anand, A			NA	IND	1909	PY	7	51,5	56,5	42,50	6
12	21		Gowtham, K K			4005CBE2023	IND	1610	TN	7	51,5	56	41,75	6
13	23		Jeevika, S	F16	w		IND	1593	PY	7	51	55	40,50	6
14	28		Darshan, S	U13		6528RAN2023	IND	1489	TN	7	50	55	40,50	6
15	17		Swara, Lakshmi S Nair		w	1090	IND	1638	KA	7	50	54	38,50	7
16	27		Dhanasekaran Suresh, R.	S55		5858MDU2023	IND	1508	TN	7	49,5	54	40,25	6
17	20		Dharmaraj, P.			9666TUT2023	IND	1626	TN	7	49,5	53	39,25	6
18	25		Kanishka, S		w	6612SLM2023	IND	1568	TN-S	7	49	53,5	40,00	7
19	8		Sridhar, J			8290TLR2023	IND	1854	TN	7	48	52	39,50	6
20	5		Ganesh, R				IND	1946	TN	7	47,5	50	36,75	6
21	33		Akshaya, Vignesh M	U10		9113VNR2023	IND	1398	TN	7	47	51	37,00	7
22	13		Siddhanth, Poonja	U13		10535KSCA2023	IND	1684	KA	7	47	50,5	37,50	7
23	78		Hem, Harsanth B S	U13		9340NAM2023	IND	1157	TN	7	47	50	36,25	6
24	34		Adhiadhavan, G	U16		4414ERO2023	IND	1396	TN	7	46,5	50	37,75	6
25	10		Sathya, Giri V				IND	1806	TN	7	46,5	49,5	35,50	7