Srinath Narayanan triumphs at MLA Chashak Rapid Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/05/2024

Six players - GM FST Srinath Narayanan, IM Arghyadip Das, GM Sankalp Gupta, Siddhant Gawai, GM Laxman R R and FM Gaurang Bagwe scored 8/9 each at MLA Chashak Rapid Rating Open 2024. Srinath won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. The remaining five were placed second to sixth respectively. His sole loss occurred against the eventual runner-up, Arghyadip. All six of them suffered a defeat each. The only untitled among top six, Siddhant managed to beat two podium finishers - Arghyadip and Sankalp. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹401000. The top three prizes were ₹51000, ₹35000 and ₹21000 along with a trophy each. The two-day rapid rating tournament was organized by Jai Sai Welfare Foundation Nagpur on 27th and 28th April 2024 at St. Vincent Palloti School in Nagpur, Maharashtra. This is Srinath's first rating and second tournament triumph of the year. Photo: SNA Sushant Jumde

Top six score 8/9

Siddhant Gawai scorched through the competition scoring eight wins in-a-row. Before the final round, he defeated IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J, IM P D S Girinath, GM Sankalp Gupta and IM Arghyadip Das. Siddhant suffered his sole loss of the event against GM Laxman R R. Eight players including Laxman were trailing at 7/8 each. Srinath defeated Sai, Sankalp won against CM Vaibhav Jayant Raut, Arghyadip got the better of Shaunak Badole and FM Gaurang Bagwe scored a victory over Nihaan Pohane. Srinath became champion, Arghyadip second and Sankalp third. A last round loss cost Siddhant dearly and he finished fourth. However, the 16-year-old Siddhant delivered a fantastic performance and he gained 151.2 Elo rating points. Despite the heartbreaking loss, he should not be too upset because he really had a great tournament overall.

Champion - GM FST Srinath Narayanan 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Runner-up - IM Arghyadip Das 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Second Runner-up - GM Sankalp Gupta 8/9 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Top 3 (L to R): 1st GM Srinath Narayanan 8/9, 2nd IM Arghyadip Das 8/9 and 3rd GM Sankalp Gupta 8/9 | Photo: SNA Sushant Jumde

GM Srinath Narayanan scored 8/9, suffering only one loss against the eventual runner-up - IM Arghyadip Das

Inaugural first move | Photo: SNA Sushant Jumde

Players in action | Photo: SNA Sushant Jumde

Group photo of the prize winners | Photo: SNA Sushant Jumde

A total of 333 players including 3 GMs and 4 IMs took part from all over the country in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Jai Sai Welfare Foundation Nagpur at St. Vincent Palloti School in Nagpur, Maharashtra on 27th and 28th April 2024. The time control of the event was 20 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	1	GM	Narayanan, Srinath	IND	2458	TN	8	55	59	51
2	3	IM	Das, Arghyadip	IND	2307	WB	8	54	57,5	49,5
3	2	GM	Sankalp, Gupta	IND	2428	MAH-N	8	53	57,5	49,5
4	17		Gawai, Siddhant	IND	1817	MAH-N	8	52	55,5	47,5
5	6	GM	Laxman, R.R.	IND	2194	ICF	8	52	54	47
6	14	FM	Bagwe, Gaurang	IND	1904	MAH	8	50	54	46
7	13		Kherdekar, Arnav	IND	1956	MAH	7,5	48,5	53,5	43,8
8	10	CM	Vaibhav, Jayant Raut	IND	2087	MAH-N	7	53	55	39
9	15		Patil, Priyanshu	IND	1849	MAH-N	7	52	57	42
10	8	IM	Sai Agni Jeevitesh, J	IND	2098	TEL	7	52	56	40
11	11		Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma	IND	2007	MP	7	51	54,5	38,5
12	9	FM	Thakur, Akash	IND	2092	MAH-N	7	50	53,5	39
13	16		Saksham, Wadhwa	IND	1846	MAH-N	7	50	53	38
14	5	IM	Gusain, Himal	IND	2212	RLY	7	49,5	53,5	40
15	24		Anshul, Nanwani	IND	1675	MAH	7	49,5	53,5	39,5
16	21		Badole, Shaunak	IND	1753	MAH-N	7	49,5	53	37
17	18		Dishank, Sachin Bajaj	IND	1797	MAH-N	7	49	53	38
18	35		Sharma, Sai	IND	1618	MAH-N	7	47,5	51,5	36,5
19	27		Walde, Harshal	IND	1657	MAH	7	47	50	37
20	26		Phani, Kanuri	IND	1663	AP	7	41,5	48,5	35,8