Vikramaditya Kulkarni dominates 8th Kurukshetra Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 12/12/2023

IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 8th Kurukshetra Rating Open 2023. He finished a staggering one and a half points ahead of the field. Six players - Dangmei Bosco, Silkam Sangma, Soram Rahul Singh, Cheniram Pegu, Neelabh Jyoti Borthakur and Abhash Roimya Saikia scored 7/9 each. They were placed second and seventh respectively. Abhash was the youngest finisher among the top ten. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹359500. The top three prizes were ₹40000, ₹30000 and ₹22000 along with a trophy each respectively. This was Vikramaditya's seventh overall, second rating tournament triumph of the year. He went on to win Bijnor Rating Open 2023 immediately after this event. Photos: IA Arun Singh

Vikramaditya's seventh tournament triumph of the year

IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni had a full point lead 7.5/8 heading into the final round. He defeated Projit Phukon in the final round to become a clear champion and finish 1.5 points ahead of the field.

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Silkam Sangma 7/9, 2nd Dangmei Bosco 7/9 and 1st IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni 8.5/9

IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, including a double hat-trick in his last six games

Arbiters' team (L to R): SNA Rajneesh Verma, IA Asit Baran Choudhury, SNA Rajkumar Baruah and FA Golap Chandra Gogoi

A total of 158 players including two IMs took part from various states across the country in this five-day nine round Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Guardians of Greater Dibrugarh Chess Players in association with D H S K College, Dibrugarh and Dibrugarh District Chess Association at D H S K College in Nepal from 23rd to 27th November 2023. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	2	IM	Kulkarni Vikramaditya		IND	2209	MAH	8,5	50	53,5	51,00	8
2	3		Dangmei Bosco		IND	1904	MANI	7	55	59,5	44,25	6
3	11		Silkam Sangma		IND	1676	MEGH	7	51,5	55,5	42,50	5
4	5		Singh Soram Rahul		IND	1839	ASM	7	51	55	38,00	6
5	7		Cheniram Pegu		IND	1725	DBRG	7	50,5	54	39,25	6
6	8		Neelabh Jyoti Borthakur		IND	1722	ASM	7	50,5	53	39,00	6
7	4		Abhash Roimya Saikia	U15	IND	1885	DBRG	7	48,5	53,5	39,50	7
8	6		Projit Phukon		IND	1758	ASM	6,5	51,5	53,5	34,50	6
9	18		Saurabh Kumar		IND	1484	BIH	6,5	49,5	53,5	36,25	6
10	10		Subhajit Dhar		IND	1701	ASM	6,5	47,5	51,5	34,50	5
11	1	IM	Mishra Neeraj-Kumar	S50	IND	2232	JHAR	6,5	46,5	50,5	35,25	4
12	9		Iftikar Alom Mazumdar		IND	1703	ASM	6,5	46	50	34,00	6
13	24		Mani Sarbartho	U07	IND	1418	WB	6,5	45,5	49,5	33,75	6
14	13		Swapnaneel Dowerah		IND	1612	DBRG	6,5	44	48	33,75	5
15	17		Abinash P Gogoi		IND	1485	ASM	6,5	42,5	45,5	29,25	6
16	15		Anuraag Saikia		IND	1531	ASM	6	48,5	53,5	33,00	6
17	153		Swarnava Roy		IND	0	WB	6	46,5	51,5	33,25	5
18	20		Chiraranjan Bhuyan	S50	IND	1474	ASM	6	46,5	49,5	29,50	6
19	29		Purnananda Buragohain	S50	IND	1347	ASM	6	45,5	48,5	27,00	6
20	21	AFM	Abhigyan Goswami	U15	IND	1459	ASM	6	45,5	47	27,50	6