Srihari L superb at 1st Unicorn Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 30/07/2024

IM Srihari L scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 1st Unicorn Rating Open 2024. He finished a half point ahead of the field. Four players - IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni, Nithin Babu, IM Dinesh Kumar Sharma and Bhaavan Kolla scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed second to fifth according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹1000000. The top three prizes were ₹100000, ₹70000 and ₹40000 along with a trophy each respectively. The five-day nine round rating tournament was organized by Unicorn Chess Academy at Technocrats Group of Institutions in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from 13th to 17th July 2024. This is Srihari's first open rating, second overall rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Technocrats Group of Institutions

Top performance by the top seed

Top seed of the tournament, IM Srihari L was the sole leader heading into the final round 7.5/8. Nithin Babu was the only player trailing him by a half point 7/8. Srihari drew with him to become a clear champion, Nithin finished third. IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni defeated Nassir Wajih to secure second place. 12-year-old Bhaavan Kolla scored an impressive 7.5/9 to be placed fifth. Madhya Pradesh's brightest kid, 10-year-old Madhvendra Pratap Sharma scored 7/9 to finish sixth.

Champion - IM Srihari L 8/9 | Photo: Technocrats Group of Institutions

Runner-up - IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni 7.5/9 | Photo: Technocrats Group of Institutions

Second Runner-up - Nithin Babu 7.5/9 | Photo: Technocrats Group of Institutions

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Nithin Babu 7.5/9, 1st IM Srihari L 8/9 and 3rd IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni 7.5/9 | Photo: Technocrats Group of Institutions

IM Srihari L (2384) defeated the eventual runner-up, IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni (2200) in an exciting game in the sixth round.

IM Srihari L en route his victory against IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni | Photo: Unicorn Chess Academy

IM Srihari L scored an unbeaten 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained a few Elo rating points

The tournament banner | Photo: IA Anupam Bhattacharjee

Players in action | Photo: Unicorn Chess Academy and IA Anupam Bhattacharjee

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: IA Anupam Bhattacharjee

The tournament hall at Technocrats Group of Institutions in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | Photo: IA Anupam Bhattacharjee

A total of 273 players including three IMs took part from various parts of India, one from England and USA each in this five-day nine round Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Unicorn Chess Academy at Technocrats Group of Institutions in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from 13th to 17th July 2024. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	RtgI	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	1	IM	Srihari L				IND	2384	PY	8	53,5	59	51,50	0	7	10	2,6
2	4	IM	Kulkarni Vikramaditya				IND	2200	MH	7,5	53	57,5	45,75	0	7	10	4,1
3	2		Nithin Babu				IND	2346	KL	7,5	51	55	44,50	0	7	20	-9
4	3	IM	Sharma Dinesh K.				IND	2221	LIC	7,5	50,5	55	44,25	0	6	10	1,3
5	11		Kolla Bhaavan	U14			IND	1971	AP	7,5	50	54	43,25	0	7	40	55,6
6	10		Madhvendra Pratap Sharma	U12			IND	1972	MP-BHO	7	51	55,5	41,75	0	5	40	47,6
7	29	AGM	Gopal Krishna Maheshwari				IND	1849	UP	7	49,5	52,5	38,25	0	6	40	93,2
8	30		Kabnurakar Rushikesh				IND	1831	MH	7	47,5	51,5	39,50	0	6	40	79,2
9	6	FM	Prakash Ram				IND	2025	PB	7	47	51	38,50	0	6	20	2,2
10	18		Badamundi Tapan				IND	1918	OR	7	45,5	49,5	38,50	0	6	20	3,2
11	58		Aditya Kayet	U14			IND	1751	WB	7	41,5	45	34,75	0	6	40	60,8
12	15		Andalamala Hemal Varshan	U12			IND	1935	AP	6,5	51	54	35,00	0	6	40	43,2
13	8		Badrinath S.				IND	2016	PY	6,5	50,5	55,5	37,75	0	6	20	-5,2
14	23		Atharva Kale	U16			IND	1869	KA	6,5	49,5	54	36,25	0	6	40	40,8
15	5		Wajih Nassir				IND	2140	DL	6,5	49,5	53,5	36,25	0	5	10	-9
16	12		Jyotshnav Talukdar	U16			IND	1948	OR	6,5	49,5	53,5	35,75	0	6	40	55,2
17	28		Majhi Fakir				IND	1858	OR	6,5	48,5	53	34,75	0	6	20	20
18	16		Mrityunjay Kumar				IND	1931	BR	6,5	48,5	52,5	36,00	0	5	20	16,8
19	22	AFM	Gorli Nyna	F14	w		IND	1876	AP	6,5	47,5	51	34,00	0	6	40	24,8
20	31		Mishra Kamad				IND	1830	MP-JAB	6,5	46,5	50	33,75	0	5	40	47,2
21	17		Chukka Vineel Radha Karthik	U14			IND	1919	AP	6,5	46,5	50	33,25	0	5	40	20
22	27	AIM	Pankaj Bhat				IND	1858	KA	6,5	46	50,5	34,50	0	5	40	27,2
23	52		Salunke Siddhant	U12			IND	1771	MH	6,5	45,5	49	32,75	0	6	40	62,4
24	20		Uma Maheswaran P				IND	1885	TN	6,5	45	48,5	31,75	0	6	20	10,6
25	39		Soham Roy	U14			IND	1808	WB	6,5	44,5	49	33,50	0	5	40	42,8
26	77		Meetansh Dixit	U14			IND	1711	MP-BHO	6,5	44	47	31,25	0	6	40	59,2
27	106		Yitish Kumar Gangwani				IND	1624	HR	6,5	44	45	29,00	0	6	20	46,2
28	42		Nidhish Shyamal	U10			IND	1802	TG	6,5	43,5	47,5	33,00	0	6	40	17,2
29	34		Sahil Bheron				IND	1822	HR	6,5	42,5	46,5	33,25	0	5	20	-0,6
30	32	WFM	Potluri Supreetha		w		IND	1828	AP	6,5	39	43	30,50	0	4	20	-2,8