Siddhant Gawai of Nagpur drew the last two rounds after nine consecutive wins to clinch the title of the 17th G.H. Raisoni Memorial International FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament. The tournament was organized by G.H. Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation & Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation, recognized by Chess Association Nagpur, Maharashtra Chess Association, AICF, and FIDE. The event concluded at G.H. Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology, Wadi Hingna Link Road, Nagpur. Siddhant finished with 10 points out of 11 rounds.
Top seed IM Anwesh Upadhyaya caught up with Siddhant by securing consecutive wins to score 10 points. However, he was adjudged second based on Tie Break Scores. FM Sauravh Kherdekar of Mumbai finished third with 9 points. Nihaan Pohane, a promising youngster from Chandrapur, finished fourth with 8.5 points.
Prizes were distributed by Chief Guest CA Akshay Gulhane, Chairman, ICAI Nagpur. Dr. Vivek Kapoor, Director Raisoni Group, Shri Amit Gandhare, Director (PR), Raisoni Group, Chief Arbiter IA Ajinkya Pingle, Shri Bhushan Shriwas, Organising Secretary, and Shri S.S.Soman, Member, MCA Observer Committee were prominently present.
Siddhant received a prize of Rs. 51,000, while IM Anwesh received Rs. 31,000.
Apart from cash prizes for the top 15 winners, Best Veteran, Best Woman, Best Nagpur Player, and Best Unrated player, trophies were distributed to the top players in different age groups. A consolation prize was awarded to Harsh Dayal.
IA Ajinkya Pingle was the Chief Arbiter, assisted by FA Sonal Tambi, FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharti Dhote, SNA Sham Agrawal, SNA Sagar Sakhare, SNA Prayas Ambade, Prathamesh Machave, and Shishir Indurkar.
The 17th G.H. Raisoni FIDE Rating Rapid Chess Tournament will commence on June 15, 2024, inaugurated by Prominent Legal Advisor Adv. Sandip Shastri. The Rapid event has attracted 450 entries from all over India.