Divya Deshmukh emerges Champion – All India Chess Federation

13-year-old Woman International Master Divya Deshmukh with 8.0 points emerged the Champion after the final round of the Velammal – AICF Women International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess tournament 2019 at Hotel Abu Sarovar Portico, Chennai here today. Divya takes home a handsome trophy and the winner’s cheque of Rs. 150000 (Rupees One lakhs fifty thousand only).

The second place was shared by Osmak Iulija (Ukraine) and Michelle Catherina (India) at 7.5 points. Osmak and Michelle were awarded cash prizes for Rs 1.25 lakhs and Re. 1 lakh respectively.

In the final round, overnight leader Michelle Catherina went down to Osmak Iulija (Ukraine). Michelle loss, saw her being overtaken by Divya Deshmukh who sailed to 8.0 points scoring over fellow Indian Chandreyee Hajra. The tournament saw Divya Deshmukh achieveing an International Master Norm and a Woman Grandmaster Norm, while Michelle Catherina P made her maiden Woman Grandmaster Norm.

Cash Prizes to the tune of Rs. 750000 (Rupees Seven Lakhs fifty thousand only) were distributed by Chief Guest Shri D V Sundar, Vice President, FIDE with other dignitaries in the dais were International Master Manuel Aaron, R Anantharam, Chairman Arbiter’s Commission, AICF, Shri Stephen Balasamy P, Gen. Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Shri B Murugavel, Vice President, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association.

In this unique round robin chess tournament, six Woman International Masters from India took up the challenge against six foreign titled players. The tournament was a novel initiative by the All India Chess Federation to bring out the talents and also give opportunities to our young Women International Masters to obtain Woman Grandmaster Norms under home conditions.

Round 11 on 2019/02/04 at 09.30 am
Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	FED	Rtg	No.
1	6	IND	2175	WIM	Michelle Catherina P	0 – 1	IM	Osmak Iulija	UKR	2394	12
2	7	IND	2168	WIM	Divya Deshmukh	1 – 0	WIM	Chandreyee Hajra	IND	1925	5
3	8	IND	2198	WIM	Sapale Saloni	½ – ½	WIM	Aakanksha Hagawane	IND	2259	4
4	9	MGL	2428	IM	Munguntuul Batkhuyag	1 – 0	WGM	Babiy Olga	UKR	2275	3
5	10	IND	2171	WIM	Varshini V	0 – 1	WGM	Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh	MGL	2314	2
6	11	COL	2107	WIM	Franco Valencia Angela	½ – ½	IM	Nakhbayeva Guliskhan	KAZ	2336	1

Final Ranking after 11 Rounds

Rk.	SNo		Name	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	7	WIM	Divya Deshmukh	w	IND	2168	8,0	0,0	38,25	7	3
2	12	IM	Osmak Iulija	w	UKR	2394	7,5	1,0	38,00	6	3
3	6	WIM	Michelle Catherina P	w	IND	2175	7,5	0,0	35,25	6	4
4	9	IM	Munguntuul Batkhuyag	w	MGL	2428	7,0	0,0	34,25	5	1
5	4	WIM	Aakanksha Hagawane	w	IND	2259	6,5	0,0	36,50	3	1
6	3	WGM	Babiy Olga	w	UKR	2275	6,0	0,0	25,00	5	2
7	2	WGM	Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh	w	MGL	2314	5,5	0,0	27,25	4	1
8	1	IM	Nakhbayeva Guliskhan	w	KAZ	2336	5,0	0,0	25,75	3	1
9	8	WIM	Sapale Saloni	w	IND	2198	4,5	0,0	19,75	2	2
10	11	WIM	Franco Valencia Angela	w	COL	2107	3,5	0,0	19,25	2	2
11	10	WIM	Varshini V	w	IND	2171	3,0	0,0	14,00	1	0
12	5	WIM	Chandreyee Hajra	w	IND	1925	2,0	0,0	8,25	1	1