GM Savchenko Boris Emerges Champion at 15th KIIT International Chess Festival 2024

The 15th KIIT International Chess Festival 2024, organized by KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), concluded successfully on 9th December 2024. The event was held from 2nd to 9th December 2024 at the KIIT University premises.

Category A Highlights

A total of 272 players from 16 federations competed in the Rs. 30,00,000 prize money tournament, which featured 41 titled players, including 12 Grandmasters (GMs) and 14 International Masters (IMs). Top seeds included IM Aronyak Ghosh (2547) from India, GM Savchenko Boris (2473) from Russia, GM Rios Gomez Cristhian Camilo (2448), and GM Sayantan Das (2437) from India.

• Champion:
  GM Savchenko Boris (Russia) emerged victorious, drawing with GM Sayantan Das (India) in the final round. He scored 8.5/10 and won the Champions Trophy along with a cash award of Rs. 3,00,000/-.
• Runner-ups:
  • 1st Runner-Up: IM Aronyak Ghosh (India) secured 7.5/10 and won the 1st Runner-Up Trophy with a cash award of Rs. 2,00,000/-.
  • 2nd Runner-Up: GM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam), also scoring 7.5/10, claimed the 2nd Runner-Up Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 1,40,000/-.

Category B Highlights

The Category B tournament, held from 2nd to 5th December 2024 at the BBA Library, KIIT Campus 17, saw 268 players from 5 federations compete.

• Champion:
  Abhirup Saikia (1791, Assam) scored 9.5/10 to clinch the title, earning the Champion Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000/-. He defeated Ranjith Pratap (1759, Tamil Nadu) in the final round.
• Runner-ups:
  • 1st Runner-Up: Jagdish Barik (1833, Odisha) scored 8/10 and won the 1st Runner-Up Trophy with a cash award of Rs. 75,000/-.
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Piyush Kumar (1835, Bihar), also with 8/10, secured the 2nd Runner-Up Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 60,000/-.

Category C Highlights

The Category C tournament, held from 6th to 9th December 2024 at the same venue, attracted 443 players from 5 federations.

• Champion:
  Srivardhan Reddy Devareddy (Andhra Pradesh) won the Champion Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000/-.
• Runner-ups:
  • 1st Runner-Up: Arijit Ghosh (Jharkhand) received the 1st Runner-Up Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 75,000/-.
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Gaigore Sanskar (1699, Maharashtra) won the 2nd Runner-Up Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 60,000/-.

Valedictory Function

The Chief Guest, Ms. Sofia Firdous, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Barabati-Cuttack, Odisha, graced the valedictory function. Other dignitaries included:

• Mr. Pravin M. Thipsay, Grandmaster & Arjuna Awardee (Guest of Honor).
• Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS & KIMS.
• Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor, KIIT University.
• Shri Ranjan Mohanty, Member, Events Committee, AICF.
• IM Sekhar Sahu, Tournament Director.
• Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Director General, Sports & Yoga, KIIT & KISS.

Players expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Achyuta Samanta for his contributions to chess and for significantly increasing the prize money, which motivated many to participate. Prof. Samanta congratulated the winners and extended his best wishes for their future tournaments.