Siddhant Gawai of Nagpur with 8 points out of Nine won the Rapid Title whereas CM Vaibhav Jayant Raut with 9 points out of Nine wins the Blitz Title of H2e Power System Maharashtra State Rapid and Blitz FIDE Rating Chess Championship 2024 which concluded on 27th October 2024 at G H Raisoni Skill Tech University, Near MIDC Police Station, Hingna- Wadi Link Road Nagpur. The Championship was organized by Chess Association Nagpur in association with G.H.Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation & Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation under the aegis of Maharashtra Chess Association recognized by All India Chess Federation.
H2e Power Systems, Pune were the main sponsors of the event and Pandit Bachharajji Vyas Smruti Pratishthan were the co-sponsor for the event.
In the Rapid event, Arush Chitre with 7 ½ points finished second. CM Vaibhav Raut, Suhrud Acharya and Shaunak Badole also scored 71/2 point but were placed third to fifth based on their tie break scores.
In the Blitz events CM Vaibhav Raut was in full form wining all games. Jay Sawalakhe with 8 points finished second.
Siddhant Gawai and Arush Chitre in Rapid Group & Vaibhav Raut and Jay Sawalakhe in Blitz Group were selected to represent Maharashtra in the National Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship to be held later this year.
Prizes were distributed at the hands of IPS Archit Chandak, DCP Traffic Nagpur City. Shri Amit Gandhare, Director(PR) of Raisoni Group was the Guest of Honour. Shri Bhushan Shriwas, Organising Secretary & Secretary, Chess Association Nagpur, Shri S.S.Soman, Member, MCA Observer Committee and IA Ajinkya Pingale,Chief Arbiter were prominently present on the occasion. The Top 10 finisher in Rapid and Blitz Group received Cash Prizes. In addition, trophies were also distributed to the Top 3 finishers of Under-7,9,11,13,15 and Veteran Group.
A team of Arbiters headed by Chief Arbiter IA Ajinkya Pingale from Mumbai duly assisted by FA Shiva Iyer, FA Bharti Dhote, FA Amit Tembhurne, SNA Prayas Ambade, SNA Shrikant Bagde, Shishir Indurkar and Prathamesh Machave are taking care of smooth conduction of the event.