FIDE Arbiter Unni Krishnan dominates 33rd CUSAT Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 26/06/2024

It is not every day one get to witness an arbiter winning a tournament. FIDE Arbiter Unni Krishnan M A who is also the Managing Director of International School of Chess won 33rd CUSAT Rating Open 2024. He scored an unbeaten 7.5/8 and finished a half point ahead of the field. Five players - Ajjesh J R, Balkishan A, Arul Anandh S P K, Praveen K B and Unas K A scored 7/8 each. They secured second to sixth place according to tie-breaks. Apart from Balkishan and Praveen, the remaining in top six remained undefeated. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹30000, ₹25000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each. The four-day eight round rating tournament was organized by Department of Physical Education CUSAT from 27th to 30th May at CUSAT Campus in Kochi, Kerala. This is Unni Krishnan's first rating tournament triumph of the year.

42nd seed delivers the strongest performance out of 608 players

FA Unni Krishnan M A made a blazing start by winning all seven games. He had a half point lead going into the final round. Ajjesh J R and Ahaz E U were the only two players at 6.5/7 each. Unni Krishnan drew with Ajjesh. Arul Anandh S P K defeated Ahaz. Top seed, Balkishan won against Aadinath Harilal. Unni Krishnan became champion, Ajjesh second and Balkishan third.

Champion - FA Unni Krishnan 7.5/8

FA Unni Krishnan scored an unbeaten 7.5/8, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 52.8 Elo rating points

Arbiters' team | Photo: FA Kunjomon P V

A total of 608 players took part from various places all over India and two from the USA. The four-day eight round Rating tournament was organized by Department of Physical Education CUSAT at CUSAT Campus in Kochi, Kerala from 27th to 30th May 2024. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	42		Unnikrishnan, M A		IND	1708	Kerala	7,5	37,5	40	36,50
2	7		Ajjesh, J R		IND	1887	Tamil Nadu	7	41,5	45,5	38,75
3	1		Balkishan, A.		IND	2072	Karnataka	7	40,5	44	37,50
4	11		Arul, Anandh S P K		IND	1872	Karnataka	7	38,5	42	36,00
5	28		Praveen, K B		IND	1771	Tamil Nadu	7	38,5	41,5	34,50
6	26		Unas, K.A.	S50	IND	1779	Kerala	7	38,5	41	35,75
7	10		Ahaz, E U	U15	IND	1876	Kerala	6,5	41,5	45,5	35,75
8	22		Shirodkar, Aayush		IND	1794	Goa	6,5	41	44,5	33,75
9	12		Abdallah, M Nisthar		IND	1838	Kerala	6,5	41	44	34,00
10	18		Dharmaraj, P.		IND	1812	Tamil Nadu	6,5	40,5	43,5	34,25
11	14	AIM	Pankaj, Bhat		IND	1830	Karnataka	6,5	40	43	33,50
12	13	AGM	Prashanth, J Naik		IND	1836	Karnataka	6,5	38,5	42,5	33,75
13	37	AIM	Shriman, K		IND	1726	Tamil Nadu	6,5	37,5	40	31,75
14	4		Siddhanth, Poonja	U13	IND	1938	Karnataka	6,5	37	40,5	31,75
15	39		Dhrikshu, K Vasant		IND	1723	Karnataka	6,5	37	40	31,50
16	30		Joy, Lazar M.A.	S50	IND	1755	Kerala	6,5	37	40	31,00
17	100		Mithilesh, P	U13	IND	1600	Andhra Pradesh	6,5	35	38,5	30,50
18	31		Rejath, Renjith	U13	IND	1755	Kerala	6,5	34,5	37,5	29,50
19	16		Kavin, Oviyan R		IND	1823	Tamil Nadu	6	41,5	45	30,50
20	15		Ajeesh, Antony		IND	1825	Kerala	6	40	42	30,00
21	58		Anirudh, Rajan P		IND	1678	Tamil Nadu	6	39,5	44	31,25
22	20		Safal, Fazil		IND	1810	Kerala	6	39,5	43,5	30,75
23	21		Krishna,	U15	IND	1805	Karnataka	6	39,5	42,5	30,00
24	23		Pranav, Chandra Mohan		IND	1789	Kerala	6	39,5	42,5	29,00
25	24	AIM	Aadinath, Harilal	U15	IND	1782	Kerala	6	39	43	30,50
26	61		Kamalesh, I	U15	IND	1674	Puducherry	6	39	42	29,25
27	171		Abhinav, M B	U13	IND	1514	Kerala	6	39	40	28,00
28	38		Abhilash, M		IND	1726	Tamil Nadu	6	38,5	43	30,50
29	44	AGM	Lakshith, B Salian		IND	1704	Karnataka	6	38,5	41,5	28,50
30	41		Mohanan, U.C.	S60	IND	1716	Kerala	6	38	42	29,50