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International master Rajesh VAV wins all-India rating chess tournament, bags ₹65,000
Women candidate master, Gunjal Chopadekar, won the best prize in the women’s category.
International master (IM) Rajesh VAV of Tamil Nadu won the Late Bharatbai Halkude memorial first all-India open Fédération Internationale des Échecs (Fide) rating chess tournament, at Ganesh Kala Krida Hall, Swargate, on Thursday.
The player, rated 2,316, garnered nine points from 11 rounds, with a clear lead over second-placed grand master (GM) Saptarshi Roy Chouwdhury.
Rajesh won ₹65,000, along with a trophy, while Saptarshi of West Bengal received ₹40,000, along with a trophy. International master Vikramaditya Kulkarni also scored 8.5 points to level with GM Saptarshi. However, the Kolkata player was declared runners-up on the basis of progressive points.
Pune player and Fide master Sohan Phadake also tied on second place with 8.5 points, but he eventually slipped to fourth place and received ₹20,000 for his efforts.
Another emerging city player, Gaurav Zagade, who impressed everyone by beating three international masters in a row during the tournament and made it to the top of leader board once, found himself in the ninth place. He managed to score 7.5 points and received ₹8,000.
Among unrated players, Arpit Pandey displayed an impressive performance and scored 5.5 points. He received a special prize of ₹9,000 and a trophy. He was followed by another Maharashtra player, Anay Uplenchwar, who also scored 5.5 points, while Pratap Ranjith of Tamil Nadu finished third.
Women candidate master, Gunjal Chopadekar, won the best prize in the women’s category. The Goa girl scored seven points and won ₹4,000 and a trophy.
