Sadhwani Raunak emerges Champion @ IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Junior Chess 2016

Sadhwani Raunak emerges Champion @ IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Junior Chess 2016
By R.R.Vasudevan

Nagpur boy Sadhwani Raunak (7.5) emerged Champion on better tie-breaks, after the 9th and final round of the IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Junior Chess Tournament 2016 that concluded at Mount Litera School International, Bandra (East), Mumbai. Tying for the top spot at 7.5 points with Sadhwani Raunak were Rahman Mohammad Fahad (Ban) and Aditya Mittal respectively. Out of total cash prizes for Rs 750000, Sadhwani, Rahman and Aditya would receive cash awards of Rs. 150000, Rs 120000 and Rs 100000 each.

Sadhwani came up with an attacking display in a Sicilan game that lasted 30 moves. Following him with an equally quick win was Rahman Mohammad Fahad (Ban) who accounted for Ragav Dhanush.

The top board game between Gukesh D of Tamil Nadu and Aditya Mittal of Maharashtra, went for a marathon five hours. The Sicilian game saw both the young stars going all out for win. Aditya sacrificed an exchange for initiative and looked all set to queen his “b” pawn. Gukesh match his Mumbai opponent, saving himself in the nick of time with accurate moves. The game was drawn in a queen and bishop ending by 58 moves, which resulted in a three way tie on top.

The game of the day award – ChessBase gift voucher – for the round 8 & 9 went to Gukesh D and Rahman Mohammad Fahad (Ban) respectively. Best game of the tournament prize went to Sadhwani Raunak.

This tournament with a total prize money of Rs 750000 is the highest in the world for a Junior event. Cash prizes and trophies were distributed to the first 23 finishers in the final list, by Shri Karan Bhagat, MD & CEO, IIFL Wealth Group & Smt Shilpa Bhagat, in the presence of Shri D V Sundar, Vice President, FIDE, Shri Bharat Singh Chauhan, CEO, All India Chess Federation, Shri Ravindra Dongre, Treasurer, All India Chess Federation, Surabhi Goel, Project Head – Mount Litera School International at Zee Learn, Shri Rishi Gupta, President, Mumbai Suburban Chess Association and Shri Praful Zaveri, Tournament Director.

IIFL Wealth Mumbai Junior Results (Round 9) (Indians unless specified) D Gukesh (7) drew with Aditya Mittal (7.5), Ragav Dhanush (6.5) lost to Rahman Mohammad Fahad (Ban) 7.5, Raunak Sadhwani (7.5) bt Ridit Nimdia (6.5), Sankarsha Shelke (6.5) drew with Narayani Adane (7), Leon Luke Mendonca (6) lost to Gupta Sankalp (7), Alok Sinha (7) bt P Yutesh (6), Saha Shuban (7) bt Mrudul Dehankar (6), Tripathi Adarsh (7) bt S Abhinessh (6), Aryan Polakhare (6.5) bt Aggarwal Vansh (6), Om Kharola(6.5) bt Sudhanshu Nikam (5.5)

Final Placings : (Indians unless specified) 1-3 Sadhwani Raunak, Rahman Mohammad Fahad (Ban), Aditya Mittal 7.5, 4-9 Gukesh D, Shuban Saha, Adarsh Tripathi, Adane Narayani, Sankalp Gupta, Alok Sinha 7, 10-17 Shelke Sankarsha, Nimdia Ridit, Polakhare Aryan, Om Kharola, Dhanush Ragav, Mullick Raahil, Aditya Savalkar, Vrandesh Parekh 6.5, 18-23 Mendonca Leon Luke, Sriram B, Abhinessh S, Aryan Ranjan, Dushyant Sharma, Yutesh P 6.0 pts