Gaurichander U of Tamil Nadu With 8 points out of Nine rounds Won the title in the Nagpur International Below 1600 FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2022 which concluded on 16th August 2022 at the Blind Relief Associations Mundle Hall, Near Deekshabhumi Nagpur. Akshat Mahobiya of Chhatisgarh, Saket Atul Kumar of MP, Sahil Ghoghate of Maharashtra, Sumedh Ramteke of Nagpur and Prateek Chandwani of MP also scored 8 points but they were placed 2nd to 6th in the merit list based on Bucholz Score. The tournament was organized by Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation at BRA Mundle Hall, Near Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur from 14th to 16th August 2022 and recognized by the Chess Association Nagpur, MCA, AICF and FIDE.
The matches were very fiercely fought and till the last round no player could establish conclusive lead. In the seventh round held on 16th August 2022, Akshat Mahobiya(FIDE Rating 1394) of Chhatisgarh took the sole lead by defeating Sushant Tiwari of Delhi. The second overnight leader Nishaan Pohane of Maharashtra lost to Chiranjit Channa of West Bengal. In the eighth round Akshat who had sole lead till seventh round drew his game against Chiranjit, however Saket Atul Kumar scored a fine victory over Top Seed Jatin Deshpande of Aurangabad. The last round saw two overnight leaders Akshat Mahobia and Saket Atul Kumar with 7 and half points pitted against each other. Their long fought game ended in a draw. Meanwhile Nagpur’s Sumedh Ramteke scored a stunning victory against 7th Seed Chiranjit Channa of West Bengal to reach 8 points.
Prateek Chandwani of MP scored over Ravi Palsule of MP and Sahil Ghorghate of Maharashtra scored over M Koteshwar Rao of Maharashtra to also reach 8 points. The well fought game between U Gowrichander of Tamil Nadu and Nihaan Pohane of Maharashtra went in favour of Gowrichander who also reached the tally of 8 points and on the basis of Best Buchold Tie Break Score he was declared winner.
Gowrichander got a glitering trophy and Cash Prize of Rs. 51000/- whereas Akshat got Rs. 3000/- as second prize. Saket Atul Kumar who led the tournament till seventh had to be content with 3rd Prize of Rs. 25000/-. Trophies were distributed to different age groups which were sponsored by Urban Nukkad.
Prize Distribution function was held on 16th August 2022. Prizes were distributed at the hands of Chief Guest Adv Nishant Gandhi, President, Chess Association Nagpur and Shri Jayant Katdare, Ex-National A Player who was the Guest of Honour. Chief Arbitger IA Promodraj Moree was also present on the dias. The program was conducted by Shri S.S.Soman who also proposed vote of thanks. The names of the winners were read out by the Devvrat Tiwari from Bilaspur.
The tournament had attracted around 486 entries from various states of India. Shri Promodraj Moree, IA was the Chief Arbiter who successfully conducted the event alongwith his team of Arbiters Deputy Arbiter FA Pravin Thakre, FA Shubham Soni, SNA Amit Tembhurne, SNA Swati Kumbhalkar, SNA Devrath Tiwari, , SNA Sudhashu Gaidhane, SNA Sagar Sakhare and Ku. Bhagyashri Bhandekar ably supported by Prayas Ambade, Amit Bhongare, Prathamesh Machave and Deep Juare.
Mr. Bhushan Shriwas (Secretary) Of Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation alongwith Organising Committee consisting of Shri S.S.Soman, Prayas Ambade, Amit Tembhurne, Amit Bhongare and Prathamesh Machave along with officials of Chess Association Nagpur worked hard for success of the event with excellent support from Shri Makrand Pandharipande, President Blind Relief Association and Shri Anant Khankhoje, Co-ordinator, BRA Mundle School.