2nd Maharastra Chess Festival 2023 at Nagpur from 1st to 9th June 2023

2nd Maharastra International Open Grand Masters Chess Tournament(Category A) was held at Nagpur from 1^st to 9^th June 2023 for a prize fund of Rs.25,00,000/-

This Rating Chess Championship was organized very well by Maharastra Chess Association, under the aegis All India Chess Federation & FIDE. The venue of the tournament was Hotel Naivedhyam, North Star, Nagpur

Host Maharastra Chess Association provided excellent food, accommodation to all title holders and to all officials. This event attracted 134 participants from 13 countries i.e., USA, Russia (FID), Azerbaijan, Belarus(FID), Slovakia, Georgia, Armenia, Krygyzstan, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Poland and also from all over states of India including Andhra, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, MadhyaPradesh, Maharastra, Odissa, Rajastan, Tamilnadu, Telungana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

In this 11 round Championship 63 titled players were participated. 16 GMs, 18 IMs, 19 FMs, 1WGM, 6WIMs and 3WFMs and many International players made the event so strong and colourful.

Shri Ajay Sancheti, Ex MP, Sunil Kedar, MLA, Shri Parinay Fuke, President, MCA and Shri Bharath Singh, Chairman FIDE Advisory Committee were jointly inaugurated the Tournament by moving the coin at 03.00 P.M on 1^st June 2023.

At the end of the seventh round two players Szpar Milosz of Poland and Vedant Panesar of India were jointly leading with 6 points each. Three players IM Rohit Krishna, GM Paichadze Luka of Georgia and IM Sammed Jaikumar Shete were closely on second spot with 5.5 points each.

In the Eighth round IM Rohit Krishna defeated GM Paichande Luka and joined the overnight leaders Szpar Milosz of Poland and Vedant Panesar with 6.5points.

Three players Fedorov Alexei of Belarus (FID), IM Neelash saha and Mayank Chakraborthy were followed the leaders with 6points each.

In the Ninth Round Rohit Krishna beat Vedant Panesar in the double edged middle game and jumped in to sole lead with 7.5 points. Szpar Milosz and Mayank Chakraborthy were on second spot with 7 points each.

In the 10^th and penultimate round Rohith Krishna out played GM Szpar Milosz and maintained the lead with 8.5 points. Three players GM Laxman , GM Aleksandrov Aleksej and IM Viani Antonio Dcunha, were scored 7.5 points each and behind the leader with one point

In the 11^th and final round IM Rohith Krishna made a well fought draw against GM Aleksandrov Aleksej in an interesting game and won the 2^nd Maharastra GM Chess Tournament with 9 points with one point ahead of others. 6 players GM Laxman R.R, IM Raahul V.S, GM Aleksandrov Aleksej, IM Viani Antonio Dcunha, IM Kushagra Mohan and IM Neelash Saha were scored 8 points each and on tie break they finished Second to Seventh respectively.

IM Rohit Krishna of Indiawon the first Prize of Rs 3.5 Lakhs along with trophy. GM Laxman R.R of India got Runner up title received Rs 2.75 Lakhs and Trophy. IM Raahul V.S of India finished third and received Rs 2 Lakhs. GM Aleksandrov Aleksej Belarus (FID) of India got fourth prize and won Rs 1.75 Lakh.

IM Viani Antonio Dcunha of India received Rs 1.5 Lakhs and finished fifth prize . IM Kushagra Mohan of India attained sixth place and won Rs 1.25 Lakhs .IM Neelash Saha of India finished seventh and received Rs 1 Lakh.

Mayank Charaborthy of Assam earned 9 game GM Norm and 11 game IM Norm. Goutham Krishna of Kerala and Sanket Chakravarthy from West Bengal earned 10 game IM Norm.

On the colorful Prize giving ceremony Dr.Sanjay Kapoor, President, AICF and Dr.Parinay Fuke, President, MCA were jointly distributed prizes in the presence of Shri Abhijit Kunte, GM,Girish Vyas,Vice President and other dignitaries on the Dias at 5.30pm on 9^thJune 2023.

2^nd Maharastra Challenge Match 2023

Tournament Report

Maharastra Chess Association organized 16 games Challenge Match between GM Vidit Gujarathi Vs GM Peter Shivdler (FID) & GM Nigel Short (Eng) Vs GM Raunak Sadhwani from 1^st to 6^th June2023 with Four Classical Fide rated Matches, Four Rapid Fide Rated Matches and 8 Blitz Fide rated Matches for the Prize fund of 21Lakhs.

GM Gujarathi won the match title with 11.0-5.0 margin against GM Peter Svidler & GM Raunak Sadhwani won the match title with 12.5-3.5 margin against GM Nigel Short

2nd Maharastra International Rating Chess Tournament for below 2000

(Category B) Tournament Report

The Maharastra Chess Fide rated Chess Tournament for below 2000 Rating was organized at Hotel Naivedhyam, North Star from 1^st to 4^th June 2023 for a prize pool of 10 Lakhs. This event attracted 291 entries from various parts of India and also from Srilanka, Bangladesh and USA

Sailesh R from Taminadu scored 8 points won the Championship. Four players Sriram Adarsh Uppala of Telungana, Nikhil of Andhra Pradesh, Umashankar of Pondichery and Arnav Mahesh Koli of Maharastra scored 7.5 each and won the 2^nd to 5^th prizes respectively on Tie break.

R.Sailesh won the first Prize of Rs 1,10,000 along with trophy. Sriram Adarsh Uppala got Runner up title received Rs 95,000 and Trophy. Nikhil finished third and received Rs 85,000. Umashankar got fourth prize and won Rs 55,000. Arnav Mahesh Koli finished fifth and received Rs 35,000 cash prize

2nd Maharastra International Rating Chess Tournament for below 1600

(Category C) Tournament Report

The Maharastra Chess Fide rated Chess Tournament for below 16000 rating was organized at Hotel Naivedhyam, North Star from 6^th to 9^th June 2023 for a prize pool of 10 Lakhs. This event attracted 272 participants from various parts of India and also from Srilanka, Bangladesh and USA

Patil Disha of Maharastra scored 8.5 points won the Championship. Mani Bharathy of Tamilnadu scored 8 points and won Runner Up title. Two players Vishwanath Kannam of Telungana and Ameya Abhay Shrivastava of Maharastra scored 7.5 each and won the Third and fourth prizes respectively on Tie break.

Patil Disha won the first Prize of Rs 1, 10,000 along with trophy. Mani Bharathy got Runner up title received Rs 95,000 and Trophy.Vishwanath Kannam finished third and received Rs Rs 85,000. Ameya Abhay Shrivastava got fourth prize and won Rs 55,000 cash prize .